Cb. Fisher, JOINING SCIENCE AND APPLICATION - ETHICAL CHALLENGES FOR RESEARCHERS AND PRACTITIONERS, Professional psychology, research and practice, 24(3), 1993, pp. 378-381
The Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct (American
Psychological Association [APA], 1992) stresses the importance of a sc
ientific base for professional practice and implementation of research
procedures that protect participant welfare. This article examines th
ree ethical concerns flowing from the science-practice relationship: (
a) Does current research provide a scientific base for psychological i
nterventions? (b) Do psychologists have an empirical foundation for ad
dressing the needs of diverse populations? (c) Is the welfare of psych
ologically vulnerable research participants protected? A survey of 323
articles published in APA journals during 1991 indicates the need to
increase the scientific evaluation of psychological treatments, the do
cumentation of client and practitioner characteristics as they relate
to service delivery, and the enlistment of practitioners in referral p
rocedures for research participants in need of psychological treatment
.