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Psychologists Must Use Valid Tools and Protect Client Welfare

“Ethical and governance standards require psychologists to use valid tools, protect client welfare, and distinguish research, audit, and service evaluation to ensure evidence is generated and applied appropriately”
Accurate
Confidence: High Checked on April 22, 2026

Summary

Ethical and governance standards for psychologists mandate the use of scientifically valid instruments and prioritize client welfare. The professional codes also require clear differentiation among research, audit, and service evaluation activities to ensure that evidence is properly generated and applied.

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Sources 60 searched

dchealth.dc.gov
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
schools.utah.gov
  • NASP 2020 Professional Standards

    School psychologists who provide · services directly to students, parents or guardians, and other clients as private practitioners, and those who work · in other mental and behavioral health settings, are encouraged to be knowledgeable of federal and state laws · regulating mental health providers, and to consult the NASP 2020 Principles for Professional Ethics and the

pacodeandbulletin.gov
  • 49 Pa. Code § 41.61. Code of Ethics.

    On the basis of this consideration, psychologists carry out their investigations with respect for the people who participate, with concern for their dignity and welfare, and in compliance with Federal and State regulations and professional standards governing the conduct of research with human participants. (b) In planning a study the investigator has the responsibility to make a careful evaluation of its ethical ...

opentext.wsu.edu
  • 3.2 From Moral Principles to Ethics Codes – Research Methods in Psychology

    Psychologists may dispense with informed consent only (1) where research would not reasonably be assumed to create distress or harm and involves (a) the study of normal educational practices, curricula, or classroom management methods conducted in educational settings; (b) only anonymous questionnaires, naturalistic observations, or archival research for which disclosure of responses would not place participants at risk of criminal or civil liability or damage their financial standing, employability, or reputation, and confidentiality is protected; or (c) the study of factors related to job or

lbecker.uccs.edu
  • Ethics Code - Effect Size Calculators - UCCS

    However, compliance with or violation of the Ethics Code may be admissible as evidence in some legal proceedings, depending on the circumstances. In the process of making decisions regarding their professional behavior, psychologists must consider this Ethics Code, in addition to applicable ...

apa.org
  • Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct

    Psychologists try to eliminate the effect on their work of biases based on those factors, and they do not knowingly participate in or condone activities of others based upon such prejudices. ... 1.01 Misuse of Psychologists' Work If psychologists learn of misuse or misrepresentation of their work, they take reasonable steps to correct or minimize the misuse or misrepresentation. 1.02 Conflicts Between Ethics and Law, Regulations, or Other Governing Legal Authority If psychologists’ ethical responsibilities conflict with law, regulations, or other governing legal authority, psychologists clarify the nature of the conflict, make known their commitment to the Ethics Code, and take reasonable steps to resolve the conflict consistent with the General Principles and Ethical Standards of the Ethics Code.

en.wikipedia.org
  • APA Ethics Code - Wikipedia

    This standard states that the psychologist's views should be supported by findings from assessments, while reporting the limitations of assessments. If a viewpoint is not based on assessment results, psychologists should provide evidence to justify their judgment.

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