The Ethical Use of Psychological Tests: Australia

Abstract

Statements of ethics and related guidelines have been developed in Australia over the period since 1968, covering psychological testing in general, and practices of individual, group, ‘blind' and computerized testing in particular. Guidelines on the psychological testing of indigenous people of Australia also exist. Changes in regulatory statements and supplementary guidelines over this period reflect support for the following: the scientist-practitioner philosophy of psychological practice; multimethod approaches to psychological assessment; and the explication of ‘best practice' in testing. The concept of contextual competence, contained in the various guidelines, may be extended to include cultural competence. The statements and guidelines reflect the ethical precepts of fidelity, beneficence, nonmaleficence and justice, and are reinforced by recent policy statements on professional competencies and continuing professional development.