Ethical and Clinical Application Flashcards

A psychologist administers the WAIS-IV to a client and discovers the client's IQ score is significantly lower than expected. What is the most appropriate next step?

Answer: Provide feedback within a supportive clinical framework and explain what the scores mean

Ethical practice requires providing feedback in a clear, supportive manner that helps clients understand their results within context.

When testing an individual from a culturally and linguistically diverse background with the WAIS-IV, the primary ethical concern is:

Answer: Ensuring the norms are appropriately applied and acknowledging potential cultural bias

The WAIS-IV standardization sample may not adequately represent all cultural groups, so clinicians must contextualize scores accordingly.

A WAIS-IV report is requested by an attorney for a legal competency hearing. Which ethical principle governs the psychologist's release of the report?

Answer: The psychologist must obtain a signed release from the examinee or a court order before releasing the report

Confidentiality requires a valid release or legal mandate before psychological records can be shared with third parties.

Which of the following represents an appropriate use of WAIS-IV scores in employment screening?

Answer: Incorporating WAIS-IV as one component of a comprehensive, job-relevant assessment battery

Ethical use of psychological tests in employment requires that they be relevant, part of a broader assessment, and administered fairly.

A clinician suspects a client is deliberately performing poorly on the WAIS-IV to exaggerate cognitive deficits. The most appropriate action is to:

Answer: Administer validity/effort measures and note the possibility of suboptimal effort in the report

Symptom validity testing is a standard practice when suboptimal effort is suspected, and findings must be transparently reported.

Under APA ethical guidelines, a psychologist who administers the WAIS-IV must:

Answer: Be trained and competent in administering, scoring, and interpreting the instrument

APA ethics require practitioners to operate within the boundaries of their competence, including proficiency with specific assessment tools.

A psychologist's WAIS-IV report written for a disability determination includes a statement that the examinee's IQ is 'borderline mentally retarded.' This language is ethically problematic because:

Answer: The term is outdated and stigmatizing; current terminology uses 'intellectual disability'

Ethical practice requires clinicians to use current, person-first, and non-stigmatizing terminology in all reports.