Showing papers on "Professional ethics published in 1992"

Amateurs, Professionals, and Serious Leisure

Abstract: For fifteen years, Robert Stebbins has conducted extensive research on amateurs and professionals in theatre, music, archaeology, astronomy, baseball, football, magic and stand-up comedy His publications give the theme of serious leisure in-depth scholarly attention This text brings together the findings of this research project to provide a theoretical framework that reveals the commonalities across these eight fields Throughout this project Stebbins has built on the work of Barney Glaser and Anselm Strauss and their notion of "grounded theory" First, Stebbins extensively observed the routine activities of amateurs and professionals in each field studied Then, as he became more familiar with the life-styles of the participants, he conducted lengthy, unstructured, face-to-face interviews with, in most cases, 30 amateur or professional respondents Each field demanded special methods of observation, analysis, interviewing, probing and reporting As much as possible, however, Stebbins asked similar questions of all respondents in all fields so as to permit generalizations across these diverse fields The result was a "substantive grounded theory" of each field studied Stebbins has developed a "formal grounded theory" of amateurs and professionals based on the research accumulated in all eight substantive fields By transcending a variety of contexts, he argues, one can gain a more enduring appreciation of the elements that affect peoples' experiences in work and leisure pursuits A review of the findings across this wide range of activities, including his findings and ideas on hobbyists and career volunteers, enabled Stebbins to derive better definitions of the main concepts of the project, such as "amateur", "the public", and "serious leisure" -- as well as "professional", where he distinguishes between client-centred and public-centred professionals who, while sharing numerous ideal-typical attributes, vary as to the power and control they have over their work in a democratic society He presents inductive conclusions about careers and the costs and rewards in the eight amateur-professional fields considered He examines the external world of amateurs and professionals in the light of such issues as family ties, relations among amateurs and professionals and among amateurs and their employers, public images, critics and journalists, community contributions, and the question of marginality for amateurs who are caught between the work world of the professional and the casual leisure world of the majority of the population He concludes with an exploration of the future role of serious leisure in relation to predictions of greater unemployment and increased leisure time and longevity

Social Impacts of Computing: Codes of Professional Ethics

Abstract: Associations of computing specialists have adopted codes of ethics parallel to those of professional societies of engineers and scientists. These codes have attempted to address the special ethical...

Treatment boundary violations: clinical, ethical, and legal considerations.

Abstract: The observance of treatment boundaries maintains the integrity of the therapist-patient relationship. It is the therapist's professional duty to establish appropriate treatment boundaries. Basic boundary guidelines are reviewed. The principles underlying these boundary guidelines are explored. A clinical vignette describing the sexual exploitation of a patient by her therapist dramatically illustrates progressive boundary violations. Boundary violations involving money are particularly common. Double agent roles also are likely to lead to the establishment of dissonant treatment boundaries with patients. The clinical, ethical, and legal issues surrounding the maintenance of treatment boundaries are discussed.

Good and Bad

Abstract: If it's not good for something, then it's good for nothing. The Director of the Centre for Business and Professional Ethics at the University of Leeds continues her examination of basic terms frequently used in business ethics.

Scientific rewards and conflicts of ethical choices in human subjects research.

Abstract: The primary responsibility of the American Psychological Association's (APA) Committee on Standards in Research (CSR) is to advise the APA on issues and standards related to the protection of human participants in psychological research. A related goal is to enhance the use of good ethical practices by APA members. The purpose of this article is to foster the view of research ethics not as an affront to the integrity of sound research, but as opportunities for scientific rewards, including increased understanding of the meaning of data, enhanced recruitment, and the inclusion of more representative samples. Three ethical practices are discussed as examples of this general premise: respect for confidentiality, use of debriefing, and assurance that participants are noncoerced volunteers. The Committee's intent is to promote consideration of these issues, not to promulgate specific guidelines or procedures.

Ethical and professional aspects of the practice of alternative medicine.

Abstract: Ethical and Professional Aspects of the Practice of Alternative Medicine. Lynoe, N. (Department of Social Medicine, University of Umea, Sweden).The question of who should provide alternative medical treatment raises a number of different problems of both an ethical and a professional nature. Providing medical treatment, including alternative medical treatment, presupposes that the physician in question possesses diagnostic competence. It is in the best interests of society that medical care is safe, and therefore society must monitor the medical profession, e.g. in order to assure itself that the treatment provided is in agreement with the tenet of science and proven experience. The democratization of the patient-doctor relationship and the liberalization of the availability of medical and alternative medical treatments means that society also has an interest in ensuring that physicians offer alternative medical treatments or cooperate with practitioners of alternative medicine. A question is whether this...

Nursing in Nazi Germany.

Abstract: German nursing did indeed change during the Nazi period. There were external changes, in terms of the improved social status of nursing, the tightening and unification of professional nursing organizations, the laws affecting nursing, and the politicization of the profession. Articles written by nurses at the time and more recent interviews suggest that there were internal changes as well. It appears that at least a portion of German nurses accepted the National Socialism reinterpretation of professional nursing ethics and humanitarian principles in the assumption that through their obedience they were doing good. This historical research points to clear lessons for contemporary nurses. Nurses in Nazi Germany were under the illusion that they were remaining true to their professional ethics, unaffected by the social change around them. This apolitical professional consciousness made it possible for the profession to be subsumed as a part of the larger political system. I believe that we must be clear that nursing never takes place in a value-free, neutral context; it is always a socially significant force. This means that we cannot simply observe what is taking place around us but must take a stand and get involved, helping to shape sociopolitical developments. I also believe that we must deal with the history of our profession, especially its darkest hours, so that we may remain sensitive to any signs of inhumanity. We must call into question traditional principles, such as obedience, and replace them with professional competence, professionalism, and creative self-consciousness. And not least, we have a moral obligation to the millions of victims of National Socialism, even if it only means that, through historical research, we assure that they are not forgotten. By taking responsibility for this part of our history, we can become more sensitive for the future, with eyes and ears open for all social injustices.

Professional ethics as perceived by American nursing undergraduates.

Abstract: The purpose of the study was to explore the perceptions of American nursing undergraduates about professional ethics. The method was qualitative; specifically, a grounded theory approach was used. The sample comprised 23 senior baccalaureate nursing students, from a possible population of 120, who were in their final clinical rotation prior to graduation. Informants were volunteers who gave informed consent having been briefed on the purposes of the study and how their confidentiality would be protected. Data were collected through audio-taped interviews and clinical logs. Analysis was conducted through the constant comparative method. Findings revealed two concepts central to their view of good nursing. These were: (a) respect, and (b) caring. Respect was described as respect for patients and families, respect for self, colleagues and the profession. Caring was associated with showing 'concern and love', providing psychological support, getting involved, being 'cheerful and friendly' and 'taking the time' to do a good job. They did not evidence an ambiguous professional role. They espoused values consistent with the professional code of ethics. They perceived that respect for others was basic to good nursing. They believed that good nurses cared about their patients and how nursing was done. They appeared to link professionalism with good nursing.

Literature and Public Administration Ethics

Abstract: Interest in professional ethics education for public administrators has been booming for the past two decades, and teaching public administration ethics entails a variety of approaches. This articl...

Ethical Teaching of Psychology: One Department's Attempts at Self-Regulation

Abstract: Despite a renewed interest in professional ethics, the focus on ethics in psychology has been predominantly limited to the domains of research and clinical practice. We argue that there is need for further research and action on teaching ethics. We describe the experience of our department in addressing the ethics of teaching through the development of a departmental ethics code and a departmental ethics committee. Based on this attempt at self-regulation, we provide recommendations for improving the ethical climate in academe.

Whistleblowing: Professionalism, Personal Life, and Shared Responsibility for Safety in Engineering

Abstract: More than most issues, life and death issues in the professions rivet our attention. Medicine presents us with questions about whether to remove life-support systems and whether to assist the suicide of patients who could live, but with a dubious quality of life. Law disturbs us with the need for defense attorneys to defend clients who they know are morally guilty of murder or rape and who may engage in those crimes again if released. And engineering confronts us with agonizing decisions about whether to whistleblow in order to warn the public of deadly hazards known only to those inside technological corporations. Right off, this interest in whistleblowing tells us something important about engineering. Whistleblowing occurs in all professions, and most of what I say will have general relevance to professional ethics. Only in engineering ethics, however, has whistleblowing been something of a preoccupation. The reason is clear. Engineers work on projects that affect the safety of large numbers of people. As profes sionals, they live by codes of ethics which ascribe to them a paramount obligation to protect the safety, health, and welfare of the public, an obligation that sometimes implies whistleblowing. As employees of corporations, however, their obligation is to respect the authority of managers who sometimes give insufficient attention to safety matters, and who also severely punish whistleblowers. As a result, there are inevitable conflicts between professional obligations to employers and the public, as well as conflicts between professional and personal life.

Ethical Principles and Evaluation Standards: Do They Match?.

Abstract: This study asked three questions: (a) What ethical principles are available to guide program evaluators? (b) how do the standards developed by the Joint Committee on Standards match up with ethical...

Counselor Training and Ethical Issues with Older Clients.

Abstract: Working with older adults requires specialized preparation in professional ethics. A rationale for including this training in the counseling curriculum and a possible approach to this instruction are presented.

The canadian research strategy for applied ethics: A new opportunity for research in business and professional ethics

Abstract: InTowards a Canadian Research Strategy ForApplied Ethics, I put forward proposals to advance Canadian research in applied ethics. I focus on the assessment made of Canadian teaching, consulting, and research in business and professional ethics and then on the strategy proposed for advancing work in these areas. I argue for research which is [1] oriented to the ethical needs of those in business and the professions, [2] interdisciplinary, and [3] involves the creation of national and international networks. I then offer some preliminary observations on the first two years of the new research strategy's operation.

Systems ethics and the history of medical ethics.

Abstract: This paper reviews the current conclusions in medical ethics which have followed the 1969-1970 Medical Ethics Discontinuity, a break that challenged the Hippocratic way of thinking about ethics. The resulting dislocations in quality of care and the medical value system are discussed, and an alternative medical ethics is offered: Systems Ethics. A methodology for a Systems Ethics analysis of cases is presented and illustrated by the case of a physician-assisted suicide. The advantages, both theoretical and clinical, of a Systems Ethics approach to medicine, which is an expansion of the Hippocratic tradition in medical ethics, are developed. Using Systems Ethics, it is possible to avoid the dangers of legalism, bureaucratic ethics, utilitarian cost cutting, and "political correctness" in medical ethics.

Rebellious Ethics and Albert Speer

Abstract: A critical analysis of the "rebellious ethics" that is the paradigm of current professional ethics and that emerged in reaction to the "pure technician" displayed in the life of Albert Speer, Hitler's architect, along with a plea to professionals to take the morality of their professional roles more seriously.

What Future Engineers and Scientists Learn About Ethics

Abstract: Consider two stories: * An inexperienced young development engineer ponders the data he has taken to prove the structural integrity of a key part in a new product. His supervisor has cautioned him that the user's safety will depend on the behavior of this part. The supervisor has also emphasized that it is extremely important that the tests be completed on schedule in order to meet the product introduction date. Unfortunately, the test data do not provide the young engineer with a clear-cut answer. He mulls several options: Repeat the tests and delay the schedule; pass the part, assuming the designers built in some extra margin of safety; "adjust" the data so that the part clearly passes. "None of my college engineering courses really prepared me to make a decision like this, particularly when user safety is so clearly involved," he mutters. * A female college student is working during summer vacation in the procurement department of a major corporation. Her supervisor requests that she telephone the procurement department of several competitors and ask where they procure a critical component and what they have to pay for it. To elicit this information, she is told to say she is a business student working on a project for her M.B.A. degree. Reluctantly, the student complies. She needs the income from the job to finance her next year in college and is fearful she will be discharged if she doesn't follow the supervisor's orders. These two hypothetical--but not unrealistic--examples illustrate students who have received inadequate instruction in ethics and the making of ethical decisions as a part of their technical curriculum. Many universities offer elective courses on ethics in science and engineering, but only a few require them for undergraduate or graduate technical degrees. Consequently, most engineering and science students have had little opportunity to think about the meaning of ethics in terms of the decisions they must be prepared to make as professionals. Asked about the meaning of "ethical," students give such answers as: "What my feelings tell me is right"; "what is in accord with my religious beliefs"; "what conforms to The Golden Rule'"; "what does the most good for the most people"; "what is customary behavior in our society"; "what corresponds to my self-interest"; "what is legal"; "what my conscience tells me is right"; "trustworthy"; "taking responsibility for my actions"; "it depends on the situation." Student behavior in the classroom reveals considerable ignorance or disregard for ethical principles. Donald McCabe, a professor of business ethics at Rutgers, polled over 15,000 students at 31 universities about cheating on tests. Business and engineering majors "led" this poll, with over 70 percent saying they had cheated at least once, and over 10 percent saying they cheated regularly (1). National press coverage of catastrophes such as the Ford Pinto gas tank accidents, the Kansas City Hyatt-Regency Hotel walkway collapse, the Challenger shuttle O-ring failure, the Chernobyl nuclear plant catastrophe, Three Mile Island, and the Exxon Valdez incident has focused public attention as never before on the professional and ethical responsibilities of engineers and scientists. Although these highly publicized disasters may be due to poor engineering judgment or practice, the possibility of unethical or inappropriate decision making is also present. As recently as 1967, polls showed Americans had a great deal of confidence in most institutions and professions. This confidence has since dropped significantly. In 1991, doctors and engineers led a Gallup poll asking if people in certain fields had high standards of honesty and ethics; however, the doctors scored only 54 percent and 33 engineers 45 percent! College professors also scored 45 percent and business executives came in at 21 percent (2). National media coverage and intensifying public worry about professional ethics have occasioned concern about the need to put ethical issues into the engineering curriculum. …

Ethical Issues in Counselling and Pastoral Care

Abstract: The historical and contemporary context of pastoral care and counselling within the judaeo/Christian tradition is reviewed. Three kinds of pastors who use counselling in their work - Christian, specialist, and generic - are identified and the ethical problems of their positions clarified. The ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice are applied to the counselling work of pastors. Theology's definition of various ethical levels, and the impact of these upon the professional ethics of pastoral carers and counsellors, are explored, and some conclusions for the future drawn.

One Philosopher’s Approach to Business and Professional Ethics

Abstract: I must start by explaining two things in my title. I say 'one philosopher's approach' because not all philosophers agree. There are a great many different ethical theories, nearly all of which have something to be said for them. One has to look at them all and see what truths they bring out, and also what mistakes they make, and try to find a theory which preserves the truths and avoids the mistakes; and that is what I have done. There has to be a theoretical basis for the rational discussion of moral problems in the professions, just as of anything else, and no one should think that we can do without it. That would leave us at the mercy of whatever prejudices we started with. My own theory is in the main a combination of the insights I find in Kant and in the utilitarians?two sorts of philosophy that are thought to be quite irreconcilable but which actually fit together very well if we understand what is going on in them (Hare 1981:4). I have next to explain what I think philosophers should be doing: what philosophy is, and what good it does. There are different views about this too, and I can only give you mine. I shall be content if you think that philosophy, as I understand the word, can help with problems in professional ethics; I leave it to others who mean something different by 'philosophy' to show, if they can, that their kind of philosophy can help too. So what is philosophy, and what good does it do? When I am asked this question, the answer I always give is that it is the study of arguments to find a way of telling good from bad ones. In short, philosophy, broadly speaking, is Logic. By "Logic" I mean, not just the mathematical kind that is done in ps and gs, but any study that casts light on what are good reasons for holding opinions that we hold, or