Fall 2026 SOWK 430 Week 10 - Introduction To Essential Steps for Ethical Problem-Solving

We start moving away from our focus on the standards in week ten. This week is a primer on what you will be diving into over the next several weeks. Students will listen to a Social Work Podcast episode and begin learning the steps of ethical problem-solving. There are three case studies that students can practice implementing these steps. Students will also complete the code of ethics exam. During the lecture video the following is the agenda:

  • Course content discussion (midcourse feedback and the A-03 exam)
  • Introduction to the Essential Steps for Ethical Problem-Solving
  • Practice applying the steps with case studies in the forums

Week 10 Objectives

  • Demonstrate a working knowledge of the Code of Ethics through earning a satisfactory score on the code exam.
  • Begin to utilize the Essential Steps method for addressing ethical issues.
  • Utilize case studies to demonstrate critical thinking in complex circumstances.

Week 10 Plan

Agenda

  • Course content discussion (midcourse feedback and the A-03 exam)
  • Introduction to the Essential Steps for Ethical Problem-Solving
  • Practice applying the steps with case studies in the forums

Learning Objectives

  • Begin to utilize the Essential Steps method for addressing ethical issues.

Midcourse Feedback

I want to go over the midcourse feedback from both sections. I only got 11 responses out of 40 (6 from section 0 and 5 from section 2), where I had hoped to get a lot more.

What’s going well

  • Lecture videos and weekly communication came up most. Students named the weekly lectures, the weekly emails and reminders, and quick, helpful feedback on their assignments.
  • Forums and assignments that make you think: Students like the choice of discussion questions, hearing classmates’ perspectives, and assignments that ask them to use their own experiences and reflect on their values as future social workers.
  • Videos and in-person meetups: One student said the videos are a welcome change from classes that are mostly reading. Another said the hands-on class meetups help them remember the topics.
  • Organization and timing: Students said the course is well organized on MyHeritage. One likes that everything is due Monday at 8 AM, so this class doesn’t clash with their other classes. Others like being able to work on their own time and go back to the materials.

What’s not going well

Four of the ten who answered this question said nothing is wrong (“n/a,” “Everything has been going great so far”). The real points were:

  • Too much on each weekly unit: Sometimes there is so much to read on a weekly unit page that it gets overwhelming, and an assignment gets missed.
  • Readings can be hard to follow: Some readings are dense or use unfamiliar terms, and it can be hard to see how an ethical concept applies to a real situation from reading alone.
  • Not sure what an assignment is asking: A few students wanted an example. One found the MyHeritage course page hard to follow after using Canvas at community college.

What I could do differently

Five of the nine who answered said nothing needs to change (“Jacob is an awesome professor. The lecture videos help a ton.”). The concrete suggestions were:

  • More real-life examples and case scenarios for working through ethical situations.
  • Examples of what assignments should look like, and more detailed instructions.
  • Breaking topics into smaller pieces, with short videos or explanations to go along with the readings.
  • Organizing MyHeritage a bit more so it is easier to see what is due.

A-03: NASW Code of Ethics Standards and Principles Exam

This week you have an exam. Don’t stress out about it.

  • There are 20 questions, each worth 5 points.
  • Multiple Choice, True/False, and one short-answer question
  • Open notes/book

Be sure you have a Code of Ethics copy nearby

Individual Assignment; please complete on your own

Quiz 1 of 2 - Question

The exam is due before 8 AM on Monday, 11/2, which is true?

  • It is on the NASW Code of Ethics.
  • It is open book.
  • It is done individually.
  • All of the Above

Quiz 1 of 2 - Answer

The exam is due before 8 AM on Monday, 11/2, which is true?

  • It is on the NASW Code of Ethics.
  • It is open book.
  • It is done individually.
  • All of the Above

Ethical Problem-Solving: Essential Steps

I want to introduce you to the ethical problem-solving steps that we will be using for the rest of this semester. These come from a video Reamer and Conrad produced in 1995. You can find the description of the process on the website for the National Association of Social Workers - Massachusetts Chapter (n.d.). There are six steps:

  • DETERMINE whether there is an ethical issue or/and dilemma
  • IDENTIFY the key values and principles involved
  • RANK the values or ethical principles which - in your professional judgment - are most relevant to the issue or dilemma
  • DEVELOP an action plan that is consistent with the ethical priorities that have been determined as central to the dilemma
  • IMPLEMENT your plan, utilizing the most appropriate practice skills and competencies
  • REFLECT on the outcome of this ethical decision-making process

Determine

The first step is to determine whether there is an ethical issue or/and dilemma.

The essential question is: Is there a conflict of values, rights, or professional responsibilities?

This is like our gatekeeper. If there is a dilemma, then we move through the steps. If not, we don’t need to continue through the process. In our practice, we should slow down, think about what we are doing/hearing/seeing, and look for potential ethical issues.

(For example, there may be an issue of an adolescent’s self-determination versus the family’s well-being.)

Identify

If we decide that there is an ethical problem, we need to move on to the second step, to identify the key values and principles involved. Is there a problem with a dual relationship? We need to identify the specific standards that are connected to the problem we are considering.

We might discuss the meanings and limitations typically attached to these competing values.

(For example, rarely is confidential information held in absolute secrecy; however, typically decisions about access by third parties to sensitive content should be contracted with clients.)

Rank

The third step is to rank the values or ethical principles which - in your professional judgment - are most relevant to the issue or dilemma.

  • These values have a hierarchy. For example, confidentiality is an important aspect of our work as social workers. We will break confidentiality when there are concerns about harm to life…
  • Make a statement describing what is more important
  • In doing these, we need to provide reasons for prioritizing one competing value/principle over another?

(For example, your client’s right to choose a beneficial course of action could cause harm or hardship for others who would be affected.)

Develop

The fourth step is to develop an action plan that is consistent with the ethical priorities that have been determined as central to the dilemma.

  • List specific action steps. First I will do this, second, etc.
  • Consider questions such as: Have you conferred with clients and colleagues, as appropriate, about the potential risks and consequences of alternative courses of action? Can you support or justify your action plan with the values/principles on which the plan is based?

(For example, have you conferred with all the necessary persons regarding the ethical dimensions of planning for a battered wife’s quest to secure secret shelter and the implications for her teenage children?)

Implement

The fifth and sixth steps we won’t be going into during the discussion posts, but you want to remember them for when you are in your own practice. The fifth step is to implement your plan.

We do this by utilizing the most appropriate practice skills and competencies.

  • Consider how you will make use of core social work skills such as sensitive communication, skillful negotiation, and cultural competence.

(For example, skillful colleague or supervisory communication and negotiation may enable an impaired colleague to see her/his impact on clients and to take appropriate action.)

Reflect

The final step is to reflect on the outcome of this ethical decision-making process.

We need to ask ourselves: How would you evaluate the consequences of this process for those involved, client (s), professional(s), and agency(ies)?

(Increasingly, professionals have begun to seek support, further professional training, and consultation through the development of Ethics Review Committees or Ethics Consultation processes.)

Quiz 2 of 2 - Question

In the “identify” step, you should…

  • Determine if an ethical dilemma exists
  • Pick specific standards that apply to the scenario
  • Develop a plan
  • All of the above

Quiz 2 of 2 - Answer

In the “identify” step, you should…

  • Determine if an ethical dilemma exists
  • Pick specific standards that apply to the scenario
  • Develop a plan
  • All of the above

Forums and Participation

Week 10

Three replies…

  • Essential Steps for Ethical Problem-Solving
  • Case Studies: Terminating Services, Confidentiality and Protecting Third Parties, and End of Life Issues
  • Discussion Regarding Singer’s (2013) 78th episode of The Social Work Podcast - “Social Work Ethics: Interview with Allan Barsky, JD, MSW, PhD”

Reference

National Association of Social Workers - Massachusetts Chapter (n.d.) Essential steps for ethical problem-solving. https://www.naswma.org/page/100/Essential-Steps-for-Ethical-Problem-Solving.htm

Reamer, F., Conrad, A. P., (1995) Professional choices: Ethics at work [Video]. NASW Press. Available at https://www.naswpress.org/product/53643/professional-choices