Ethics & Professional Standards Flashcards
7 cards from real CSP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Ethics & Professional Standards flashcards as text
A practitioner is asked by law enforcement to hand over interview data from a sensitive community study. Without a legal subpoena, the practitioner should:
Answer: Refuse and consult legal counsel to protect participant confidentiality
Without a valid legal order, voluntarily disclosing participant data violates confidentiality obligations; legal counsel helps navigate compelled disclosure.
Which of the following is an example of 'ethics creep' in sociological research?
Answer: Gradually broadening the scope of ethical scrutiny to low-risk, everyday social research unnecessarily
Ethics creep refers to the over-extension of formal ethics oversight to routine activities that pose little real risk to participants.
A CSP practitioner finishes a consulting engagement and is approached by the client's main competitor for similar work. The primary ethical consideration is:
Answer: Whether the previous client's confidential information could be inadvertently disclosed
Post-engagement confidentiality obligations persist, and working for a direct competitor risks misuse of proprietary client information.
In what circumstance is it ethically permissible to use deception in sociological research?
Answer: When the research question cannot be answered otherwise, risk is minimal, and full debriefing follows
Deception is only justified when scientifically necessary, poses minimal risk, and is followed by prompt, full debriefing of participants.
How should a sociological practitioner handle authorship credit on a collaborative research publication?
Answer: Assign authorship based on intellectual contributions, not only on seniority or funding
Ethical authorship standards require that credit reflect actual intellectual contribution to the research and writing.
A practitioner conducting an organizational study realizes the findings could be used to justify layoffs. The most ethical approach is to:
Answer: Report findings accurately and proactively discuss potential uses and impacts with all stakeholders
Practitioners must report findings honestly while facilitating transparent dialogue about their potential consequences with relevant parties.
Which statement about online informed consent is consistent with current ethical standards for sociological research?
Answer: Online consent must meet the same substantive standards as written consent and be documented
The medium of consent does not reduce its substantive requirements; documentation and comprehension standards apply equally online.