LEARNING ETHICS THE HARD WAY - FACING THE ETHICS COMMITTEE

This article describes an approach to enhancing the value of case stud y material in teaching professional ethics in psychology. The mock com mittee approach involves a series of hearings convened by students who rotate membership on a class ethics committee. Members of the class p articipate randomly as Psychologists accused of various ethical violat ions. While the class observes, formal complaint hearings occur that r esult in official rulings and the setting of appropriate penalties and remedial requirements, The larger class then joins in active feedback and exchange with the committee to highlight and discuss salient ethi cal issues. We present and discuss student evaluation data for this te chnique and comment on the potential advantages of this teaching appro ach.