Case Vignette #1:
Dr. Waleed is a researcher in The Health Sciences University of America. Dr. Waleed is considered one of the rising stars in his department, the department of Psychology and is on the fast track to become a tenured faculty member in the University.
He published 9 articles in 3 years. Dr. Waleed, in an effort, to become close to and gain favours with the head of the department Dr. Khalaf, he invited Dr. Khalaf to join his latest publication. Dr. Khalaf initially, disagreed, and did not want to be involved in the research. But after Dr. Waleed’s convincing….
Dr. Khalaf agreed for Dr. Waleed to put his name in the publication without Dr. Khalaf doing anything as in Dr. Khalaf did not contribute to the intellectual conceptualization of the research manuscript nor the data collection or writing phases of the research.
In addition, when writing up the data for the research article, Dr. Waleed would change existing data sets provided by results from surveys as he willed. For example, Waleed would change (2 to 4, 3 to 5) to fit his hypothesis.
Dr. Wanda, a colleague in the department realized what had been happening and wanted to report Dr. Waleed to the University officials.
Questions:
- What are the ethical breaches that Dr. Waleed was involved in. In your own words explain what the ethical breaches are and define them.
(If you were to use a reference such as a research article, Code of conduct document, please cite it.)
- What would you have done differently?
- Explain in your own words how you would report Dr. Waleed to university officials and base your answer on the Codes of Effat University or any of the other codes we have explained. But do not quote nor plagiarise, write in your own words the steps for reporting Dr. Waleed.
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Case Vignette #2:
Dr. Wahab is a professor of psychology. In one of his classes he invited 3 undergraduate students to his lab to become undergraduate research assistants.
The three undergraduate students were Wafa, Wisam, and Sa’eedah. Wafa, and her colleagues agreed to join the lab and in later months, asked Dr. Wahab to supervise them in their upcoming research study that they wanted to start.
Wafa came up with the topic and the different variables, Wisam and Sa’eeda were in charge of Data collection, Wafa, Wisam and Saeeda were to collaborate on writing the article, and Dr. Wahab was supervising.
Wafa was complaining to her colleagues that Dr. Wahab would send text messages in inappropriate times (late at night) asking about the research project, and that sometimes he would send up to 5 consecutive text messages.
A few months in, the trio of lab assistants submitted the final version of the research article for Dr. Wahab to add his name and submit it to a prestigious Scientific Journal.
After that, Wafa, Wisam, and Sa’eeda realized that Dr. Wahab removed all 3 of their names in order to put his name as the sole researcher and investigator of this study.
Questions:
- What are the ethical breaches that Dr. Wahab was involved in. In your own words explain what the ethical breaches are and define them.
(If you were to use a reference such as a research article, Code of conduct document, please cite it.)
- What would you have done differently?
- According to what you have learnt, what is the correct way to distribute the authorship credit?
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Case Vignette #3:
Dr. Wajdah is a psychology professor and professional psychologist. Dr. Wajdah was working in a new research paper with the head of the Department Dr. Lujain.
It is also important to note that Dr. Lujain was an editor of the journal (Psychological Sciences).
Dr. Wajdah asked Dr. Lujain for permission to leave Wajdah to conduct the data collection and analysis, and Dr. Lujain because she was busy with the department and administrative duties agreed.
Dr. Wajdah when writing the data, locked her office, and entered carefully the data that she wanted in an excel sheet and never actually collected the data herself.
Dr. Wajdah sent the manuscript to the journal of psychological science and it was accepted.
After that, Dr. Manal, a colleague in the department discovered the research misconduct and fraud conducted…
Questions:
1. What are the ethical breaches that Dr. Wajdah was involved in. In your own words explain what the ethical breaches are and define them.
(If you were to use a reference such as a research article, Code of conduct document, please cite it.)
2. What would you have done?
3. Did Dr. Lujain conduct a mistake and an ethical breach? Please explain and elaborate
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Ethical Vignettes: Part two: Practice
Case Vignette 4:
Dr. Jane Freeman is a licensed clinical psychologist primarily focused in the treatment of depression and PTSD through her PhD and Post PhD training and supervision.
Dr. Jane has been going through a rough patch recently and have been taking the files of her clients with her when she leaves the clinic.
Dr. Jane accepted a client whom she diagnosed with Schizophrenia after the intake session through administering an assessment. She has been lately claiming that she will enrol in a few courses on the CBT treatment of Schizophrenia and that way she can support her client.
Dr. Jane also oversaw 2 interns in the clinic where she worked and tasked them with preparing a new treatment manual for a new group on PTSD for former army officers that she will be running in the upcoming month. She provided her 2 interns who complained that they were not trained in writing such manuals. She told them it was okay, and they should learn how to if they were to continue to be interning in her clinic.
Questions:
1. What are the ethical breaches that Dr. Jane was involved in. In your own words explain what the ethical breaches are and define them.
(If you were to use a reference such as a research article, Code of conduct document, please cite it.)
2. What would you have done?
3. Was taking the client’s files home risking the clients’ confidentiality. Please explain.
Case Vignette 5:
Dr. Tamara Stevenson is the head of a local psychological facility (center), and teaching at a University. One of her students, Michelle, asks her for the centre’s number so she could schedule a session with her. Dr. Tamara gladly hands Michelle and accepts Michelle as a client. Note that Michelle is 17 years old (skipped a grade in primary school).
Dr. Tamara accepted Michelle verbal consent only and started therapy with her.
After that, Dr. Tamara in the lunch area was discussing and laughing at private details that Michelle shared with her in her sessions.
Then one of the therapists, Dr. Ashley, who witnessed this event, was eating lunch and overheard what Dr. Tamara had said.
Michelle later had learned what Dr. Tamara had done and wanted to end sessions with her. Dr. Tamara became visibly upset and did not want Michelle to end the sessions with her and threatened her.
Michelle had asked to be referred to another therapist and the clinic manager suggested Dr. Ashley. Before, starting sessions with Dr. Ashley, Tamara shared with her the previously mentioned and Dr. Ashley wanted to confront Dr. Tamara on her ethical violations.
Questions:
1. What are the ethical breaches that Dr. Tamara was involved in. In your own words explain what the ethical breaches are and define them.
(If you were to use a reference such as a research article, Code of conduct document, please cite it.)
2. What would you have done?
3. How can Dr. Ashley deal with these ethical breaches moving forward, to take the necessary actions against Dr. Tamara?
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Case Vignette 6:
Dr. Thomas is an expert psychologist. He had been working as a psychologist for Adults for 35 years.
Dr. Thomas had been feeling burnt out as of late. He had been allowing his interns (who have little experience in assessments) to conduct assessments with his clients and bill them as if Dr. Thomas conducted the assessments himself. Dr. Thomas’ license was soon to expire and in order to renew it, he had to attend 2 intermediate/advanced level Seminars in his field in psychotherapy.
Dr. Thomas had stopped with his continued education, signing up for conferences, and workshops in his field of therapy for the last 5 years. He asked one of his colleagues Dr. Eman for a certificate that he attended the lectures and paid her extra to receive the certifications without even attending.
Dr. Thomas also had been seeing child clients. In one instance, he was asked by the school counselor on if he was seeing the client Patrick, who was a 3rd grade student in Springfield Elementary School. Dr. Thomas told the school counselor to call him and in that call, Thomas shared that he had seen Patrick for 6 sessions and that Patrick had been abused a few years earlier, and many other sensitive details about Patrick.
What are the ethical breaches that Dr. Tamara was involved in. In your own words explain what the ethical breaches are and define them.
(If you were to use a reference such as a research article, Code of conduct document, please cite it.)
2. What would you have done?
3. Do you think Dr. Eman did an ethical breach. Please elaborate on your answer.
That is all.
