Workshop 15 (half day)

Ethical Issues in the Practice of Psychology in Organizations:  Introductory Issues (AM Session Only)

Presenters:      Rodney L. Lowman, Alliant International University
                         Vicki V. Vandaveer, The Vandaveer Group, Inc.

Coordinator:     Peter D. Bachiochi, Eastern Connecticut State University

Prerequisites: None; attendance at the afternoon Advanced Ethical Issues workshop is NOT required.

Ethical issues are all around us as we practice I-O psychology.  Until recently, the APA Code of Ethics did not seem to apply very well to many I-O psychologists; it appeared to be “for clinicians only.”  Some I-O psychologists saw the applicability with no problem; yet, there were situations that I-O and consulting psychologists face that were not covered.  However, the Ethics Code has evolved over time to address the issues that confront practicing I-O psychologists. This introductory workshop will address (a) current developments in the APA Ethics Code and how the Code applies to I-O psychology, (b) ethics enforcement mechanisms, (c) aspirational versus enforceable standards, and (d) the broader context in which these principles and standards operate.  Interactive cases will be used throughout to illustrate the above concepts.  This workshop is intended for practitioners who are relatively new to the field or who need a refresher on ethics in organizations.  Instructors of ethics-related courses are also encouraged to attend.

This workshop is designed to help participants:

• Describe the current developments in the APA Code
• Apply the Code to I-O psychology
• Identify and use the appropriate enforcement mechanisms
• Explain the context for developing and changing ethical principles and standards
• Apply ethics knowledge to representative case material

Advanced Ethical Issues for I-O Psychologists:  All the Shades of Gray (PM Session Only)

Presenters:      Rodney L. Lowman, Alliant International University
                         Vicki V. Vandaveer, The Vandaveer Group, Inc.

Coordinator:     Peter D. Bachiochi, Eastern Connecticut State University

Prerequisites: Attendance at the AM workshop session titled, “Everyday Ethical Issues in the Life of an I-O Psychologist” (or equivalent course elsewhere); at least 3 years of practice in I-O or consulting psychology.

Knowing the APA Code of Ethics is a critical first step in addressing ethical issues in the practice of I-O psychology.  However, unanticipated subtleties or complications often arise in actual situations.  This workshop will address (a) the application of the Code to scenarios with complex nuances (the “shades of gray”), (b) the personal and political dynamics that complicate cases, (c) issues that have no single correct interpretation or solution; and (d) your most challenging cases.  A few weeks before the workshop, participants will be asked to provide a case that they’ve encountered to be discussed in the workshop.  The workshop leaders will select several participants’ cases to review in the workshop as the basis for applying the APA Ethics Code and SIOP standards of practice to professional practice.  Other participants’ cases will be discussed in break-out groups.  This workshop is intended for experienced practitioners, with a good working knowledge of the APA Ethics Code, who want to take their knowledge and understanding of ethical issues, and their skill at preventing and/or handling them, to the next level of effectiveness—and be able to advise others on ethical practice.  

This workshop is designed to help participants:

• Apply knowledge of the Ethics Code to complex, ambiguous case material
• Identify personal and political dynamics that impact cases
• Identify and analyze the nuances of complex ethical dilemmas
• Prevent or more easily resolve ethical dilemmas by more clearly understanding one’s own role 

Rodney Lowman, a PhD graduate of Michigan State University with specializations in I-O and clinical psychology, currently serves as provost and vice-president for Academic Affairs and as a professor in the Marshall Goldsmith School of Management at Alliant International University. He is currently a Fellow of APA (Divisions 12, 13 and 14) and a Diplomate of the American Board of Assessment Psychology. Lowman is the author of eight books and monographs, and he has published over 100 scholarly publications and made hundreds of professional presentations. His books include Handbook of Organizational Consulting Psychology and The Ethical Practice of Psychology in Organizations (2nd Ed). He has served as past president of the Society of Psychologists in Management (SPIM), the Society of Consulting Psychology, as chair of the Board of Professional Affairs (BPA) and as a member of the Committee on Psychological Tests and Assessments and the Ethics Committee of APA.

Vicki Vandaveer is a consulting psychologist with 30 years professional practice experience—13 years internally (Shell and Southwestern Bell) and the past 17 years in national and international consulting.  An I-O psychologist from University of Houston, she is CEO and founder of The Vandaveer Group, a Houston-based consulting firm specializing in (a) executive assessment and coaching, and (b) international, multicultural leadership team effectiveness (1993–present).  She is also an adjunct professor of psychology at Rice University and University of Houston, where she teaches an advanced graduate level course in Professional Issues and Ethics.  A Fellow of APA and SIOP,  Vandaveer has served as SIOP’s APA Council Representative; has chaired numerous SIOP committees, including State Affairs; and currently serves on APA’s Board of Professional Affairs and on APA’s Presidential Model Licensing Act Task Force.  Over the years, she has served on numerous SIOP and APA panels on the subjects of professional ethics and psychologist licensure.

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