Ethical Issues in the Use of Computer-Based Assessment

Abstract

In the past several years, increasing concern has been raised about the ethical issues involved in computer applications in mental health, particularly regarding computerized psychological testing and interpretation. The ethical concerns are reviewed relative to the various activities computers may be asked to perform. The authors argue that in some cases the use of computer-assisted assessment may be viewed as at least as, if not more, ethical than the clinician. In others, particularly regarding computer-based test interpretation, the authors recognize the existence of problems, but feel solutions for many of these exist. Even where problems remain, these should not preclude the use of technolgoies, but rather signal the need for careful use. Even where problems remain, these should not preclude the use of these technologies, but rather signal the need for careful use. Some specific concerns covered are dehumanization, nonvalidated computer test interpretation, the use of computer assessment by untrained individuals, potential negative effects for minorities, and cultural bias and covert and omnipresent assessment. Finally, computer-assisted assessment is viewed as a potentially powerful took, the development and empirical testing of which needs to be considered separate from current, and at times, ethically objectionable patterns of misuse.