Free Ethics In Social Science Practice Essay Example

Ethics

Our perception of whether we are acting in an ethical manner depends on several variables such as the context, the expectation from others and the time frame. Often, we are poor judges of what is right or wrong, and those observing us might not know our intent of choosing one action over another. Such a scenario necessitates for a Code of Ethics that acts as a guide when one is faced with an ethical dilemma. In applied social science work, many a times one must decided between what intervention is appropriate and what is ethical. In this discussion, I will mention in brief some of the ethical challenges that I anticipate in my career and possible solutions to the challenges.
The main challenge in social work practice often arises because ethical decisions are not straightforward, because what is considered unethical in one situation might be ethical in another. This confusion amplifies the significance of understanding the ethical standards guideline provided by the American Counseling Association. For instance, concerning privacy and confidentiality ethics, how do I as a counselor determine that I should disclose the confidential information that a client shares with me? This is a catch 22 situation, but Ponton and Duba (2009) suggest that confidentially clause does not apply if a client discloses information that confirms lead the counselor to belief that he/she is a danger to self of others. Furthermore, in counseling children, how does one maintain the autonomy of the child considering that is a possibility of manipulation from the parent? Well, the ACA code of ethics articulate this issue in a clear manner and advices counselors to recognize that “trust is cornerstone” of the profession. In every situation, a counselor should cultivate trust from their clients’ by respecting their need for privacy. There are many ethical challenges that I am not able mention within this discussion, but one thing is clear, the ACA Code of Ethics is the cornerstone tool that will guide us in the social science practice.
As discussed above, in practice a social worker will often be faced with numerous ethical dilemmas. For this reason, it is always important to have the ACA code of ethics at your disposal just in case confusion arises. Furthermore, if in doubt about a situation, it is always good consult with colleagues and administrators to avoid the ethical pitfalls that might risk your profession.

Reference

Ponton, R. F. & Duba, J. D. (2009). The ACA Code of Ethics: Articulating Counseling’s Professional Covenant. Journal of Counseling & Development. 87(1):117-121.