Can Counselors and Therapists be good Teachers and Researchers
Ethics of Teaching
• Competence
• Responsible use of power
Competence to teach
Knowledgeable about subject matter, prepared for work, and committed to facilitate student learning
Responsible use of power
Abuse of power can include sexual harassment or exploitation, indiscriminate evaluation of student performance, exploiting student labor for personal gain, or neglecting responsibilities
Ethics of Research
Responsibilities of researcher:
1. To develop scientifically acceptable research protocols that are worth participants’ time and have reasonable chance of yielding meaningful findings
• Poorly designed and executed research is unethical even if participants are not at risk for harm or discomfort (Rosenthal, 1994)
• Good science assumes sensitivity to issues of diversity (Fisher & Vacanti-Shova, 2012; Scott-Jones, 2000)
2. Protect the rights and safety of research participants (both human and animal)
• Institutional review boards (IRBs) approve and oversee conduct of any research that involves risk of harming human subjects.
• Be aware of ethical guidelines for research with animals, e.g., APA’s Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in the Care and Use of Nonhuman Animals (2012).
3. To report results fairly and accurately
• Most basic obligation is not to misrepresent results in any publication or communication of them to participants or colleagues
4. To cooperate with colleagues and share research data
• Ultimate goal of clinical research is to add to profession’s and public’s understanding of human behavior.
• Research is cooperative endeavor in which findings are shared with colleagues and peer criticism is conducted in educative rather than punitive fashion.
Central ethical issues embedded in activities of teaching and research mirror those of direct clinical service. In this discussion assume the role of a counselor or therapist and present how you would either teach a human development course on grief and bereavement OR research a topic on power imbalance that impacts the teacher-student relationship.