How Ethics Differ in Research and Therapeutic Practice

How Ethics Differ in Research and Therapeutic Practice

Prior to beginning work on this discussion, read the APA’s Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct  (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.in its entirety, paying special attention to standards 8 and 10 that cover ethics in research and therapeutic practice. Oftentimes research methods courses discuss the ethics of research and focus on historic examples of unethical research studies. This discussion of ethics will involve a different focus. The Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. presents information on ethical standards and expectations that apply to specific situations, including therapy and research. Explain the differences between the ethical standards for clients being treated by psychologists in counseling sessions and the standards for conducting psychological research with human participants. Consider your future career in the field of psychology and describe the parts of the Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. you expect to relate directly to your future career. Select and provide the number for one ethical requirement that applies specifically to psychological research and briefly summarize the standard. Explain why this requirement may not apply to a therapy situation.

Guided Response: Review several of your colleagues’ posts and respond to at least two of your peers who selected a different ethical requirement than you by 11:59 p.m. on Day 7 of the week. You are encouraged to post your required replies earlier in the week to promote more meaningful interactive discourse in this discussion.
As you formulate your responses, answer the following questions:

  • Did your colleague provide a thorough explanation of the differences between the ethical requirements for research versus those for therapeutic practice?
  • What differences did your colleague note which you did not list in your initial post?
  • Considering the future career your colleague mentioned, did he or she correctly describe the parts of the APA code which would directly relate to that career path?
  • What suggestions might you make to your colleague in terms of ethical standards which would apply to this career path?
  • Do you concur with your colleague’s choice of ethical standard that applies specifically to psychological research?
    • If so, why? If not, what standards might you suggest your colleague consider that apply specifically to research?
  • Did your colleague provide a convincing explanation as to why this standard would not apply to therapeutic practice?
  • Can you think of additional explanations for why this requirement may not apply to a therapy situation?

Describe how the emerging field of epigenetics is impacting the longstanding nature vs nurture paradigm

 Prior to beginning work on this discussion please read the Hurley (2013) Trait vs. Fate and Weaver, et al. (2004) Epigenetic Programming by Maternal Behavior articles and review the Webster “The Great Rat Mother Switcheroo” online article. The recommended resources for this week also provide more information on these topics.

In this week’s required resources, we have learned that while our genes have a lot to say about who we are, environmental factors, particularly parental behavior, can shape the behavior of offspring on a biochemical level.  Using the assigned Hurley and Weaver et al. articles, briefly describe the research that has been done with rat mothers to illustrate this phenomenon. In your initial post of a minimum of 350 words, explain the implications of the research on parental behavior and environmental factors as they relate to human personality development. Describe how this research data might be used to explain unhealthy personality traits. Describe how the emerging field of epigenetics is impacting the longstanding nature vs nurture paradigm. Be sure to cite the Hurley and Weaver, et al. articles in your initial post.

How could knowledge gained through the pursuit of each subspecialty help us to understand everyday problems, dilemmas, or situations?

PSYC WK7

For this Forum, in your Initial Post you will share with your classmates your observations from your research on Experimental and Forensic Psychology as subspecialties and career options.

Please be sure to address BOTH subspecialties in your response to each question.  Points will be deducted if both subspecialties are not clearly and separately addressed.

1) After researching these areas, do you find them to be career possibilities you are interested in or careers that don’t capture your interest?  Why or why not?

2) What is at least one thing you learned about each of the two subspecialties that you did not previously know?

3) Describe a “real-world” application for each of the two subspecialties.  How could knowledge gained through the pursuit of each subspecialty help us to understand everyday problems, dilemmas, or situations?  Note:  your answer does not have to be specific to psychology as a field.  Think broadly; psychological principles can apply to many different fields.

What do you think has caused the movement to gain or lose momentum?

Choose a current social movement. You may choose your own or select one of the following: Occupy Wall Street movement, Black Lives Matter movement, the environmental movement, or the gender equality movement.

While you might have not heard of the specific organizations involved in the movements, you have likely heard of issues raised by participants in these movements. Answer the following questions about the movement you have selected in one to two sentences each.

  1. Which social movement did you choose, and what interests you about the movement?
  2. How have you learned about this social movement (news articles, social media, social commentary, conversation with others, television news)?
  3. What is the “big question” or inquiry that the movement is trying to answer?
  4. What do you think has caused the movement to gain or lose momentum? How does this movement either directly or indirectly impact your day-to-day life? For example, if you are looking at the environmental movement, maybe you were directly impacted by a tax break for purchasing a new Prius or putting new energy-efficient windows in your home.

What objective evidence is used to support the perspective?

SCS 100 Theme 4: Graphic Organizer Exemplar

View this graphic organizer exemplar on the hybrid and electric cars debate as a model of how to approach this activity.

Supporters of [insert the selected issue here]

What group(s) in American society does the perspective appeal

to?

What organizations promote the perspective?

What are the biases in the perspective?

Does the perspective appeal to you? Why or

why not?

What objective evidence is used to

support the perspective?

Electric vehicles People concerned about climate change/global warming, pollution, and natural resource exploitation (oil and gas). These people are usually of a younger demographic (under 40 years of age).

Organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promote the use of electric cars in order to reduce emissions, pollution, and the extraction and use of natural resources for nonelectric vehicles. The makers of electric vehicles would also likely promote the use and sale of these vehicles.

Biases of this perspective would include the assumption that gas-powered vehicles are the sole cause of environmental pollution and that electric vehicles would easily solve or reverse global warming/climate change.

Electric vehicles are most appealing to me because I would personally enjoy using renewable power rather than relying on a non- renewable resource such as gas or oil.

Empirical evidence from the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded human- induced climate change is happening and the effects are already evident.

Maintaining gas-fueled cars as primary means of transportation

Car enthusiasts would likely support maintaining gas-fueled cars because very few high-performance cars are electric; most are fueled by gas.

Automotive lobbyists, car manufacturers, and oil producers would promote maintaining gas-fueled cars.

Automotive lobbyists, car manufacturers, and oil producers profit a great deal from the creation and sale of gas- fueled cars as well as the gas that is sold to fuel them.

I have owned a gas- fueled car my whole life and it is expensive to purchase gas for it, so this approach appeals least to me.

A study by Christopher W. Tessum and colleagues (2014) reported a battery- powered car recharged with electricity generated by coal-fired power stations is likely to cause more than three times as many deaths from pollution as a conventional, petrol-driven vehicle.

http://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?url=http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow?failOverType=&query=&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&display-query=&mode=view&displayGroupName=Reference&limiter=&currPage=&disableHighlighting=true&displayGroups=&sortBy=&search_within_results=&p=OVIC&action=e&catId=GALE%7CQBGHFY204428841&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE%7CPC3010999316&source=Bookmark&u=nhc_main&jsid=9657ac52b2df43721744479cd05b44a5
http://www.pnas.org/content/111/52/18490.full.pdf?sid=24cb1e56-4048-4ab5-9751-725c80de2f75
http://www.pnas.org/content/111/52/18490.full.pdf?sid=24cb1e56-4048-4ab5-9751-725c80de2f75
http://www.pnas.org/content/111/52/18490.full.pdf?sid=24cb1e56-4048-4ab5-9751-725c80de2f75

Why is it important that our understanding of social science concepts continue to develop and expand?

 Reflect on the concepts presented in the video and overview and the example of a growing body of research as captured in the article A Review of Facebook Research in the Social Sciences. Also, consider the question you posed about your advertisements in your observation journal in the last theme. Then, in a short answer response, address the following questions:

  1. How does social science inquiry advance and evolve over time?
  2. Why is it important that our understanding of social science concepts continue to develop and expand?
  3. Then, consider the question you posed in the observation journal, which you submitted in Theme 2. How could others build upon this question through additional research or follow-up questions?
  • attachment

    SocialScientificObservations.

. How is the development applicable outside of the social sciences?

For this assignment, reflect on what you consider to be some of the most significant developments covered in this theme (for example, discoveries, changes in thinking, or research advances), and address the following:

  • Identify the developments and how they impact individuals or larger groups/cultures.
  • Describe how the developments changed society’s understanding. How is the development applicable outside of the social sciences?

This assignment can be completed through a “micro-presentation” format (1 to 2 slides) or a short-answer response (1 to 2 paragraphs).

Please note that this assignment is an opportunity for you to practice elements of the last project, due in the next theme. In that last project, you will complete either a presentation or a short paper. When choosing your format for this assignment, consider what you will do for the last project. Then choose one of the two options below:

  • If you are choosing to submit your final reflection as a presentation: Complete the micro-presentation for this assignment (a presentation with 1 to 2 slides and accompanying notes). You may use a presentation platform of your choice (Microsoft PowerPoint, Prezi, etc.) to complete this assignment. To learn more about obtaining Microsoft 365 and creating PowerPoint or Prezi presentations, view the Supporting Resources document.
  • If you are choosing to submit your final reflection as a short paper: Complete the short answer response for this assignment (a written response of 1 to 2 paragraphs). Both assignments will be graded using the same criteria.

To complete this assignment, review the Learning Block 6-3 Reflection Rubric document.

What can group members expect to change as a result of participating in your group?

 Our group will be with domestic violence survivors.  Only bid if you can get it done today please.

Here are the guidelines of what need to be in the discussion:

 

· Each member should select at least one recent (published in the past 5–10 years), peer-reviewed journal article in APA formatting that supports the rationale for the group. Provide a brief summary (1–3 sentences) for your article(s) explaining why it supports your rationale. Be sure to include the Walden Library permalink or DOI so your colleagues and faculty may review the article.

· In conjunction with your cohort members, select the resources that best support your rationale. Use these to begin a draft of your brief literature review in your working proposal document.

· Refine and clearly state your group objectives in measurable terms. (What can group members expect to change as a result of participating in your group?)

· Outline the practical considerations for your group. This should include group size, screening procedure, location of meetings, and necessary informed consent. Determine if the group is to be an open or closed group, how you plan to recruit members, the number of expected sessions, and the group structure.

· Consider potential inclusion and diversity themes, such as how diversity may impact early group process or how you might address bias.

· Add any proposed curriculum or theoretical underpinning that would be appropriate for your group. (This may emerge from the literature.)

· Consider any additional leadership skills and/or training that might be required.

Required Readings

 

Corey, M. S., Corey, G., & Corey, C. (2018). Groups: Process and practice (10th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage.

  • Chapter 6, “Initial Stage of a Group” (pp. 175–220)

 

Corey, G., Corey, M. S., & Haynes, R. (2014). Groups in action: Evolution and challenges (2nd ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage.

  • Part II, “The Initial Stage”

Here is an example of a classmates post.

 

Hi all!  Hope everyone is doing well.  I have not heard back from some of you on confirming the population for our group proposal, and I understand we are in differing time zones and have different things going on in our lives, but I had to get this assignment in on time while I had time. Sooooo, that being said, my initial post for this week is based on if we all agreed upon the psychoeducational group for adolescents in military families.  This seems like a good group to encompass most of our population interests because there are so many various issues this population may face- undoubtedly related to the various interests expressed by all of you last week.  Also, with the military specification, our research and lit review can go more smoothly- as we have a specifier for looking up information on the types of struggles and methods for helping the group.

Summary of Article (Adolescents in wartime US military families: A developmental perspective on challenges and resources)

Adolescents in US military families are a unique group that not only face normal milestones of adolescent development such as establishing identity and becoming autonomous, but also the challenges of military life including frequent moves, relocation, parent deployment to combat settings, and the emotional and physical issues experienced by both the deployed parent and the caretaker parent (Milburn & Lightfoot, 2013).  As of 2013, nearly two million teens aged twelve to eighteen years in the US live in a military household impacted by these challenges, and according to the Department of defense, these military families have experienced the most frequent, longest, and most cumulative number of wartime deployments in US history (Milburn & Lightfoot, 2013).  Some of the adolescents from this population report high levels of emotional and behavioral problems as well as substance use (Milburn & Lightfoot, 2013).  The Milburn and Lightfoot (2013) article explores how the adolescent experience of being a member in a military family influences the physical, cognitive, and emotional developmental changes in these adolescents and posits that working with this unique population contributes to growing and necessary research on military families to be part of the body of research in mainstream psychology.  The Milburn and Lightfoot article explores the risk statuses, challenges, and supportive resources for adolescents in this population, which is why I suggest it as one of the articles to be included in our final literature review for the project, because of the well-rounded review of information concerning the challenges, needs, and types of support proven helpful for this unique population.

Things to Figure out:

So following the suggestions for this week, I have written out my thoughts on each prompt- these are shared to open discussion about what you guys might like/agree with, or dislike/disagree with- I am open to all input!  Let’s try to get a general consensus on as much as possible by the end of this week!

Initial Objectives and Goals

I am re-reporting my initial objectives and goals because they are in measurable terms…I thought you guys had some great ideas for goals and objectives as well, but we would just need to put them into measurable terms, which we can do in our back and forth here in the discussion.  Here are my measurable objectives:  establishing a safe and respectful environment, gaining signed consent and confidentiality documents, and managing expectations for treatment outcomes by the second session of group therapy, exploring individual issues and common themes by third session, evoking and beginning exploring of emotion by the fourth session, generating new emotional responses by midway through the course of therapy, and validating an emerging sense of self in the second half of the therapeutic relationship.  Essentially, the group leaders would record how and when members meet these objectives and address any issues individuals face toward meeting these objectives by adapting group and session processes as appropriate.  Some of the goals these objectives would lead to fulfilling would be overcoming bonding inhibitions and fears of emotions.  Additional goals would be increasing functioning, energy, connectedness, and positive sense of self and outlook, often measured via self-report assessments administered at the beginning and end of treatment.

Group Size/ Recruitment/ Screening Procedures/ Open or Closed/ Number of Sessions/Structure/ Addressing biases in group/ Consent/ Curriculum

The group size may be moderate to small, based on the need in whatever location we choose (research here may help us find the most underserved locations where we could contribute with the psychoeducational group).  Recruitment could occur in the underserved location through local bulletins including schools, churches, community buildings, etc.  The screening procedure could be an intake interview, some sort of documentation or parent confirmation of military affiliation, and/or gathering information on the teen’s presenting issues, risk factors, and protective factors via intake questionnaire, in efforts to ensure the members of the group are on even playing field in those terms so the direction and efficacy of group can be maintained appropriately.  I also recommend this is an open group, given that this unique population moves around a lot- I would not want to close the group to incoming adolescents who just moved to the area seeking support who would benefit from group.  I would have to do more research but I’m thinking this could be a school-based group or after school type of group which may benefit from having weekly meetings throughout the school year which would mean about thirty-six meetings.  I think we decided the group would be a psychoeducational group so the structure might include a designated opening time for check in, and then a weekly topic based on the needs of group members from their intake information, and then a closing segment where final thoughts can be shared and prep for next week can occur.  To address biases and promote inclusion in group I think we should set the precedent immediately within the first group meeting where members agree verbally to promote respect, inclusion, and nonjudgement, as well as write it out on a piece of paper and sign off on what they wrote to solidify the commitment.  We will bring up this agreement whenever issues arise and be diligent to not let any negative interactions or bullying occur.  We will also have initial consent/disclosure documents signed and explained within first session where standards are set and known by all involved on the confidentiality of group, and consent to involvement and its risks.  Curriculum or approach toward therapy in group warrants further research on what is shown to be most effective, but given that this is a psychoeducational group part of the process may include establishing the boundaries and expectations for group, and after its members are open toward the process proceeding based on topics selected by the group (or moderators) for each week consisting of a portion of introduction to educational information followed by group discussion on what was educationally revealed to group that week.  Training necessary may include some sort of group leadership experience, or valid formal education in lieu of actual experience, where leadership skills will be a must in managing the expectations, direction, interaction levels, and respect amongst a group with this population where varying issues and levels of intensity are sure to arise.

References

Milburn, N., & Lightfoot, M. (2013). Adolescents in wartime US military families: A developmental perspective on challenges and resources. Clinical Child & Family Psychology Review, 16(3), 266-277. Doi: 10.1007/s10567-013-0144-0

  • attachment

    USW1_COUN_6250_CohortGroupProposalGuidelines2.docx
  • attachment

    WAL_COUN6250_04_A_EN.pdf
  • attachment

    LiteratureReviews-CommonAssignm

What do the data say about the program?

Assignment 1: Working With Data

Statistical analysis software is a valuable tool that helps researchers perform the complex calculations. However, to use such a tool effectively, the study must be well designed. The social worker must understand all the relationships involved in the study. He or she must understand the study’s purpose and select the most appropriate design. The social worker must correctly represent the relationship being examined and the variables involved. Finally, he or she must enter those variables correctly into the software package. This assignment will allow you to analyze in detail the decisions made in the “Social Work Research: Chi Square” case study and the relationship between study design and statistical analysis. Assume that the data has been entered into SPSS and you’ve been given the output of the chi-square results. (See Week 4 Handout: Chi-Square findings).

To prepare for this Assignment, review the Week 4 Handout: Chi-Square Findings and follow the instructions.

Submit a 1-page paper of the following:

· An analysis of the relationship between study design and statistical analysis used in the case study that includes:

  • An explanation of why you think that the agency created a plan to evaluate the program
  • An explanation of why the social work agency in the case study chose to use a chi square statistic to evaluate whether there is a difference between those who participated in the program and those who did not (Hint: Think about the level of measurement of the variables) 
  • A description of the research design in terms of observations (O) and interventions (X) for each group.
  • Interpret the chi-square output data. What do the data say about the program?

References (use 3 or more)

Dudley, J. R. (2014). Social work evaluation: Enhancing what we do.(2nd ed.) Chicago, IL: Lyceum Books.

  • Chapter 9, “Is the Intervention Effective?” (pp. 226–236: Read from “Determining a Causal Relationship” to “Outcome Evaluations for Practice”)

Document:Stocks, J. T. (2010). Statistics for social workers. In B. Thyer (Ed.),The handbook of social work research methods(2nd ed., pp. 75–118). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. (PDF)

Trochim, W. M. K. (2006). Internal validity. Retrieved from http://www.socialresearchmethods.net/kb/intval.php

Document:Week 4: Handout: Chi-Square findings (PDF)

  • attachment

    Wk4HandoutChi-S