Learning Exercise 2
150 points, Due on
Listed below are research situations that may occur in social work practice. Identify the ethical dilemmas presented in each scenario and describe the NASW ethical principle/s being broken.
Read the research scenarios below and answer these questions for two of the four research scenarios:
1.) Read each research scenario and determine if there is an ethical violation. You should determine this by synthesizing the information from your text and associated materials. If you believe the scenario does not break any ethical violations, you should state that and justify it thoroughly. If you do believe there was a violation, explain what the violation is.
2.) For each of the research scenario, identify what you believe to be the one or two ethical principles that are most apparent in the situation. (Hint: use the NASW code of ethics for guidelines https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics-English). For scenarios that you believe do not break ethical violations, you must still indicate which ethical principles are at play.
3.) For the scenarios that you believe do break ethical violations, describe the process or procedures that should be used to “fix” the violation.
Research Scenarios
1. Mr. Jones has worked for Research Data, Inc. for six months conducting social research. He thinks he is doing a good job, and has a chance to build a well-paying, secure career at research data, Inc. One day, Ms. Simpson, Mr. Jones’ supervisor, came into his office and shut the door. In a serious tone, Ms. Simpson asks Mr. Jones to adjust the sampling frame and change five questions in a survey that that will be conducted by R. Data for Dole Bananas. First; the original sampling frame included grocery stores all across North America, but Ms. Simpson wants to drop seven areas where fewer bananas are sold. Second, the questions are to be modified to increase estimates of future banana purchases and show a strong desire of consumers for bananas. Ms. Simpson said that these changes will make the market for Dole banana look much better. Strong results will help Dole get a $15M bank loan it needs for expansion. If the results of the survey are great, and they expand, then R. Data will continue to get large contracts from them- since they are such a good customer she doesn’t want to those their business to another firm.
Ms. Simpson hints that since security in the job comes from being a “team player” and future success and promotions come from those that understand the needs of the company. She mentions that this type of “adjusting” is done frequently and no one will get hurt.
Is Ms. Simpson’s request ethical? Why or why not? What are the implications if he does what she asks, and what are they if he doesn’t? Do you think that data and surveys are skewed frequently?
2. A sociologist is interested in learning more about the use of drugs and/or alcohol by NAU students in order to design a program that will reduce the use of these substances. The researcher hires 10 research assistants (RAs) in various dorms to investigate and record the use of substances in their dorms. The RAs are being paid $1000 for their participation in the study and are instructed not to inform the dorm residents about the study. What are the ethical issues? What would be the risks and benefits of such a study? Do you think that it is okay as long as the students are not informed? Who would be likely to see or benefit from this information?
3. Social workers for a battered women’s program conduct an evaluation of the effectiveness of the services provided by the program, hoping to bring visibility more funding and resources to the program by publishing the findings. The findings, however, unexpectedly indicate the services are not as effective as they could be. In light of these findings, the social workers decide they must not have conducted a thorough study of the services they are convinced are effective, and they decide not to let the board or others know about the study.
4. While parents await their children in the waiting room of a Child Guidance Center, the center’s social work staff instructs them to complete a questionnaire on child rearing attitudes. The staff will use the findings of this study to prepare a proposal for funding a parent education program. What are the ethical considerations about this? What should be covered or not? Are there any implications for the parents? Who would be likely to see or benefit from this information?
Writing and submission instructions
1. Address each question separately and write the number of the question you are addressing.
2. This paper will be written according to the APA, 7th edition guidelines.
3. Your paper should include a title page according to APA style, 7th edition.
4. Page Margin: margins should be set at 1” all around.
5. The body paragraphs should be aligned to the left margin or left-justified, with a .5” indent at the beginning of each new paragraph.
6. Font: Times New Roman font, and 12-point font size.
7. Page numbering should follow the APA writing style.
8. Follow all other APA writing guidelines. Instructions on APA writing format for papers are available on https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/), and also in the American Psychological Association, 7th ed. Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association that also appears under recommended texts in your syllabus. Points will be deducted for not using APA style guidelines.
9. Please submit the assignment under Learning Exercise 2 dropbox, located under the Learning Exercises tab on the course page on Blackboard.