101801: Ethical Decision-Making in Social Work: Exploring Personal and Professional Values

About the Course:

Little systematic research appears to exist that explores the complex and essential process of ethical decision-making among social workers. This paper presents results of a study of NASW members that explored factors that relate to ethical decision-making, discrepancies in ethical decision-making, and rationales for courses of action chosen. Findings suggest that both personal and professional factors are related to ethical decision-making and predict the degree to which ethical decisions are discrepant.

Journal/Publisher:

The Journal of Social Work Values and Ethics

Publication Date:

Spring 2009, Vol. 6, No. 1

Authors

Otima Z. Doyle, Ph.D.; Shari E. Miller, Ph.D.; Fatima Y. Mirza

About the Authors:

Duke University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

University of Georgia, School of Social Work

University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Social Work

Recommended For:

This course is recommended for health care professionals, especially psychologists, counselors, social workers, and nurses who seek knowledge about personal and professional values in ethical decision-making. It is appropriate for an intermediate level of participants’ knowledge.

Course Objectives:

1. Outline results and limitations of existing research about factors that influence ethical decision-making.

2. Review the methods, data, and results of a study that explored factors that relate to ethical decision-making, discrepancies in ethical decision-making, and rationales for courses of action chosen.

3. Discuss the implications of the study and direction for future research.