I am writing to you in regards to a dilemma I have encountered while studying
educational challenges. I am currently working with special needs students and I
was confronted by one of them who has severe learning difficulties. This student
has been demanding to be included in the research project with other members of
the class. It is important to note, her parents have already refused her participation
in this research project on her behalf, but the student is eighteen years old. As I
have looked over my APA Code of Conduct, I have found a few principles that I
feel may be at stake. The first one being, Principle D- Justice in the APA Code of
Conduct states, “Psychologists recognize that fairness and justice entitle all
persons to access to and benefit from the contributions of psychology and to equal
quality in the processes, procedures, and services being conducted by
psychologists” (APA, 2017). d According to this principle, everyone has the right to
be included in the benefits of psychology. In this case, the student wants to be
included in the study which shows she believes this research project will benefit
her in some way.
Furthermore, Principle E- respect for people’s rights and dignity is another
principle I find at stake. It states, “Psychologists respect the dignity and worth of
all people, and the rights of individuals to privacy, confidentiality, and self-
determination. Psychologists are aware that special safeguards may be necessary
to protect the rights and welfare of persons or communities whose vulnerabilities
impair autonomous decision making. Psychologists are aware of and respect
cultural, individual, and role differences, including those based on age, gender,
gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, sexual orientation,
disability, language, and socioeconomic status, and consider these factors when
working with members of such groups” (APA, 2017). As well as in Section 3.01 of
the APA Code of Conduct, which states that “psychologists do not engage in
unfair discrimination based on age, gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, culture,
national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, or any
basis proscribed by law” (APA, 2017). For both Principle E and Section 3.01, there
is a similarity stated that disability and a respect for the rights and dignity of all
people should be taken into consideration. This includes this eighteen year old
student regardless of the parents choice in this matter. By not allowing her to
participate, I believe would be completely going against these two principles.
Lastly, another part of the APA Code of Conduct at stake is found in section 3.10
where it talks about informed consent. In regards to informed consent, a
psychologist who is conducting research is to obtain consent of those participating
in the study before the study actually begins (APA, 2017). In this situation,
although the parents have stated they do not wish for their daughter to be a
participant in the study, she is still considered of age to be able to consent for
herself. Taking all of these principles into consideration drawn from the APA Code
of Conduct, we can conclude that the student is of legal age and should not be
discriminated against despite having learning disabilities. I believe in order to be
fair and ethical, this individual has the right to be included in this study just as
others in the class are being included.
Best Regards,
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d References
American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical Principles of Psychologists
and Code of
Conduct (2002, amended effective June 1, 2010, and January 1, 2017).
http://www.apa.org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/ethics/code/index.html
