Problem:
Respond to statement below:
When I think about Arun's situation, the APA General Principle that best guides his response is Principle B: Fidelity and Responsibility, though it closely intersects with other principles. Principle B emphasizes trust, professional responsibility, and accountability to all parties affected by one's work-not just the individual or organization that provides payment (American Psychological Association [APA], 2017). In this case, Arun's responsibilities extend beyond senior management to include the employees whose input he was tasked with collecting and representing. Need Assignment Help?
Application of APA principles to transparency and fairness
Principle B directly applies to the issues of transparency and fairness because Arun initially helped create expectations that employee feedback would be gathered ethically and shared responsibly. Shortening the data collection timeline threatens data quality and undermines informed consent, which weakens trust in the process. Additionally, management's decision to withhold survey results contradicts earlier commitments, potentially silencing employee voices. Principle E (Respect for People's Rights and Dignity) also applies, as employees deserve respect, autonomy, and honesty regarding how their data will be used. Principle A (Beneficence and Nonmaleficence) is relevant as well, since rushed data collection and lack of transparency could harm employees by making their participation feel meaningless or exploitative (APA, 2017).
Balancing ethical accountability and organizational pressure
To uphold ethical accountability, Arun should clearly communicate his ethical concerns to management and explain how reduced consent procedures and withheld feedback could compromise the validity of the data and damage employee trust. Framing his concerns in terms of professional standards, data integrity, and long-term organizational credibility may help maintain a constructive client relationship. He could propose ethical compromises, such as extending consent explanations through written communication, documenting limitations caused by the shortened timeline, or providing employees with a summarized version of results rather than full data access.
At the same time, Arun must protect his professional integrity by setting boundaries. If management insists on actions that fundamentally violate ethical principles-such as misrepresenting consent or intentionally suppressing employee feedback-Arun may need to formally document his objections or consider withdrawing from aspects of the project. Upholding ethical standards, even under pressure, reinforces public trust in psychology and aligns with Principle C (Integrity), which stresses honesty and accuracy in professional work (APA, 2017).
Overall, Arun's challenge highlights the importance of prioritizing ethical responsibility over convenience or organizational demands. While maintaining positive client relationships is important, professional integrity and respect for participants must remain central to ethical decision-making.