PCI Ethical & Professional Standards 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An investigator discovers that a colleague is falsifying interview notes to support a predetermined conclusion. What is the most appropriate action?
- Ignore it to maintain team cohesion
- Report the misconduct through proper channels (Correct answer)
- Confront the colleague publicly
- Destroy the falsified notes yourself
Correct answer: Report the misconduct through proper channels
Reporting misconduct through proper channels upholds professional integrity and the investigator's ethical obligation to accurate reporting.
Question 2: Which principle best describes an investigator's obligation to present findings objectively, regardless of which party hired them?
- Advocacy
- Impartiality (Correct answer)
- Confidentiality
- Loyalty
Correct answer: Impartiality
Impartiality requires investigators to present factual findings without bias toward the hiring party's desired outcome.
Question 3: A PCI is asked by a client to conduct surveillance on a subject in a state where that type of surveillance requires a license the investigator does not hold. What should the investigator do?
- Proceed since the client's need is urgent
- Decline and advise the client to hire a licensed investigator in that state (Correct answer)
- Subcontract secretly to an unlicensed associate
- Complete the task and apply for the license retroactively
Correct answer: Decline and advise the client to hire a licensed investigator in that state
Operating without required licensure violates law and professional standards; the investigator must decline and refer the client appropriately.
Question 4: Which of the following best defines 'conflict of interest' in the context of professional investigations?
- Disagreement between two investigators on methodology
- A situation where personal interests may compromise investigative objectivity (Correct answer)
- A legal dispute between the investigator and a client
- Competing assignments from different clients
Correct answer: A situation where personal interests may compromise investigative objectivity
A conflict of interest arises when personal, financial, or relational interests could impair an investigator's objectivity or loyalty.
Question 5: An investigator is subpoenaed to testify about a client's case. The client instructs the investigator not to disclose certain findings. What should the investigator do?
- Comply with the client's instructions to protect confidentiality
- Refuse to testify
- Consult legal counsel and comply with the subpoena (Correct answer)
- Destroy the relevant documents before testifying
Correct answer: Consult legal counsel and comply with the subpoena
A legal subpoena overrides client confidentiality instructions; the investigator must consult counsel and comply with lawful court orders.
Question 6: Under ASIS International's Code of Ethics, which obligation does a PCI have regarding professional competence?
- Maintain competence only in their primary specialty
- Continually update knowledge and skills relevant to the profession (Correct answer)
- Delegate complex tasks to avoid exceeding competence
- Competence is self-assessed and no ongoing obligation exists
Correct answer: Continually update knowledge and skills relevant to the profession
ASIS ethics require investigators to continuously develop and maintain professional competence throughout their careers.
Question 7: When an investigator learns during an assignment that a subject plans to commit fraud against a third party not related to the current case, the investigator should:
- Ignore it as outside the scope of the engagement
- Immediately alert the subject that they are being watched
- Consider legal and ethical obligations, potentially reporting to appropriate authorities (Correct answer)
- Include the information only if the client pays extra
Correct answer: Consider legal and ethical obligations, potentially reporting to appropriate authorities
Discovering plans for imminent fraud triggers ethical and potentially legal reporting obligations beyond the current client engagement.
PCI Ethical & Professional Standards 2
An investigator discovers that a colleague is falsifying interview notes to support a predetermined conclusion.
What is the most appropriate action?