Problem: Respond to statement below:
Ethical Analysis of Arun's Workplace Dilemma
APA General Principles Guiding Arun's Response
The APA General Principle that most strongly guides Arun's response to these ethical challenges is Principle B: Fidelity and Responsibility, supported by Principle A: Beneficence and Nonmaleficence and Principle E: Respect for People's Rights and Dignity (APA, 2017).
Principle B (Fidelity and Responsibility) emphasizes psychologists' obligations to uphold professional standards, establish trust, and accept responsibility for their professional roles. Although Arun is contracted by senior management, he also holds an ethical responsibility to the employees participating in the engagement survey. Management's request to shorten the data collection timeline risks undermining informed consent and data verification, which threatens trust and professional accountability. Fisher (2017) notes that in organizational settings, psychologists must be particularly vigilant when power imbalances place participant rights at risk.
Principle A (Beneficence and Nonmaleficence) applies because compromise data collection procedures may lead to inaccurate findings and potentially harmful organizational decisions. Rushed timelines and inadequate consent processes increase the likelihood of ethical errors, a pattern commonly observed in professional practice when administrative pressure overrides ethical safeguards (Reamer, 2019). Arun has an obligation to minimize harm by ensuring data integrity and ethical treatment of participants.
Principle E (Respect for People's Rights and Dignity) is especially relevant to the organization's decision not to share survey results despite previously promising feedback. Respect for autonomy and dignity includes honoring commitments made during informed consent and acknowledging employee voices. Withholding results risks silencing participants and violating expectations of transparency and fairness. Ethical literature emphasizes that transparency in data use and feedback is essential to maintaining trust in applied psychological work (Legan et al., 2021).
Together, these principles suggest that Arun's ethical response should prioritize transparency, fairness, and respect for employee participation while remaining grounded in professional responsibility.
Upholding Ethical Accountability While Balancing Organizational Pressures
Arun can uphold ethical accountability by engaging in clear, ethically grounded communication with management. The APA Ethics Code encourages psychologists to clarify role expectations, informed consent procedures, and the intended use of data, particularly when project conditions change (APA, 2017). Arun should explain how shortening the timeline compromises ethical standards, framing his concerns in terms of data validity, participant rights, and professional obligation rather than personal disagreement.
Fisher (2017) emphasizes that ethical decision-making often involves negotiation rather than confrontation. Arun could propose alternative solutions, such as extending consent opportunities digitally, delaying final reporting to the board, or providing a summarized version of findings to employees. These compromises allow Arun to maintain professional integrity while acknowledging organizational constraints.
Documentation is also essential. Recording ethical concerns, recommendations, and management decisions protects both participants and the psychologist, especially if the survey results are later questioned. Research on professional ethics stresses that accountability and transparency are critical when psychological work intersects with institutional goals and commercial interests (Lagen et al., 2021; Stoeckl et al., 2023).
Ultimately, advocating for employee voices does not violate Arun's loyalty to his client; rather, it reflects ethical professionalism. By grounding his actions in the APA Ethics Code and establishing ethical frameworks, Arun can balance organizational expectations with his responsibility to uphold ethical standards and public trust in psychology. Need Assignment Help?