Spring 2025 SOWK 460w Week 05 - Writing About an Ethical Framework

Slide 1
Text overlays a black background: 'Writing about an Ethical Framework, Week 05, Spring 2025, SOWK 460w.' Gears and a globe symbolize theme. Credits: Jacob Campbell, Ph.D. LICSW, Heritage University.

Spring 2025 SOWK 460w Week 05 - Writing About an Ethical Framework

title: Spring 2025 SOWK 460w Week 05 - Writing About an Ethical Framework date: 2025-02-15 14:10:37 location: Heritage University tags:

SOWK 460 week five is asynchronous, with no in-person class. You will read chapter seven from Royse (2023), which is focused on the range of experimental design methods that can be used to group participants in research. These include experimental, quasi-experimental, and pre-experimental design methods, as well as some random sampling discussion. In my lecture video, we will discuss writing about an ethical framework and how that can be applied to your final paper and research design. I also ask you to read McDonald et al. (2015) and their discussion of how to write about ethical frameworks in social work.

The agenda for the video includes:

  • Expectations for week five
  • What is an ethical framework
  • Ways we consider ethics within program evaluation
  • How we would write about ethical frameworks
Slide 2
Agenda slide presents the plan for Week 05, detailing expectations, ethical frameworks, program evaluation ethics, and writing strategies. Includes presenter name, institution, course code, and term. Settings are black background with white text.

Agenda: The Plan for Week 05

  • Expectations for week five
  • What is an ethical framework
  • Ways we consider ethics within program evaluation
  • How we would write about ethical frameworks
Slide 3
The slide lists activities for 'Week 05' with readings: 'Ethical Professional Writing in Social Work and Human Services' and 'Program Evaluation.' Tasks include completing a quiz, watching a video, and writing a journal entry. Lecturer: Jacob Campbell, Ph.D. Heritage University. Course: SOWK 460w, Spring 2025.

Week Five Expectations

Read

  • McDonald et al. (2015) Ethical Professional Writing in Social Work and Human Services
  • Royse (2023) Chapter 07 Group Research for Program Evalaution

Do

  • Complete the reading quiz
  • Watch lecture video
  • Complete your first journal entry
Slide 4
Slide displays a text layout. Object: 'Ethical Framework for Program Evaluation' is central with a pink banner. Action: questions are listed. Context: black background with explanatory text and course details at the bottom.

What is an Ethical Framework

In social science literature and research design, an ethical framework is a structured approach to identifying, analyzing, and resolving ethical issues that arise in the research process. It provides principles and guidelines that help researchers navigate moral dilemmas, ensure the integrity of their work, and protect the rights and well-being of participants.

Concepts

There will be a specific section in your paper, but it can be idneified throughout

Might include things such as:

  • Core Ethical Principles
  • Informed Consent
  • Confidentiality and Privacy
  • Risk and Harm Mitigation
  • Cultural Sensitivity and Equity
  • Integrity and Transparency
  • Ethical Oversight and Review

The following is based on what is expected on your final paper. In general:

  • Explain the considerations you made when designing the project.
  • Frame it clearly

Potential questions answered

  • How will you interact with clients, the institution, and subjects?
  • How will you protect the rights and privacy of subjects?
  • With whom will you share data, and why?
  • Did your tasks/timeline ultimately go the way you thought it would?
  • What took longer and why?
  • What was more complicated than you expected, and why?
Slide 5
A star diagram outlines steps like 'Assume harm and risk' and 'Avoid deception.' The text beside it reads, 'Ethical Development of a Program Evaluation,' from a Spring 2025 presentation.

Ethical development of a program evaluation

There are some things that we can do as practitioners to help safeguard against unethical behavior in program evaluation

  1. Assume harm and risk: Always risk…
  2. Identify and address risk: Risks should be documented and explicitly discussed as well as planned to help mitigate. Think process for IRB.
  3. Cultivate mutual responsibility: between parties involved in the development/implementation of the program evaluation
  4. Incorporate scrutiny: Work with stakeholders, for blindspots
  5. Understand the setting: Unable to understand the risk to the population unless understand the setting and population
  6. Avoid deception: Openness and transparency

(Kapp & Anderson, 2010)

Slide 6
The image features a seven-step flowchart outlining ethical considerations in research. Steps include planning, IRB guidelines, addressing policies, submitting plans, stakeholder cooperation, ensuring consent, and reporting. Header: 'Steps to Ensure Ethical Considerations.' 1. Plan that includes participant identification, sound methodology, and reporting plan.2. Identify and review IRB guidelines and requirements.3. Address policies and procedures required for protection of human subjects and informed consent.4. Submit the evaluation plan and procedures to an agency board for review and approval.5. Work with stakeholders to obtain cooperation.6. Ensure informed consent and privacy.7. Report to relevant stakeholders.Jacob Campbell, Ph.D. LICSW Heritage University(Kapp & Anderson, 2010)SOWK 460w Spring 2025

Steps to ensure ethical considerations

The following would be some steps to help ensure that your evaluation is done ethically.

  1. Plan that includes participant identification, sound methodology, and reporting plan
  2. Identify and review IRB guidelines and requirements
  3. Address policies and procedures required for protection of human subjects and informed consent
  4. Submit the evaluation plan and procedures to an agency board for review and approval
  5. Work with stakeholders to obtain cooperation
  6. Ensure informed consent and privacy
  7. Report to relevant stakeholders

(Kapp & Anderson, 2010)

Slide 7
Slide listing social service values like social justice, reflexivity, and professional integrity. Context includes Jacob Campbell, Ph.D., LCSW, Heritage University. Reference: McDonald et al., 2015. Course: SOWK 460w, Spring 2025.

Focus on social service values and principles

McDonald et al. (2015) argues that we can infuse ethical frameworks through our discussion of values and principles and how they are engaged. Their paper lays out 10 potential areas that this might happen.

  • Social justice
  • Respect for persons
  • Professional integrity
  • Accountability and transparency
  • Accuracy, judiciousness and credibility
  • Reflexivity
  • Authenticity
  • Sensitivity
  • Purpose
  • Persuasion
Slide 8
Slide displays bibliographic references for two publications. First: Kapp and Anderson (2010), 'Agency-based program evaluation.' Second: McDonald et al. (2015), 'Ethical professional writing.' Includes DOI links and an academic affiliation logo and info.

Reference

Kapp, S. A., & Anderson, G. R. (2010). Agency-based program evaluation: Lessons from practice. Sage Publications. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.4135/9781544364896

McDonald, D., Boddy, J., O’Callaghan, K., & Chester, P. (2015). Ethical professional writing in social work and human services. Ethics and Social Welfare, 9(4), 359-374. https://doi.org/10.1080/17496535.2015.1009481