Abstract
M.Comm.
Orientation: Professions are widely recognised on the basis of their expert knowledge and their adherence to an accepted code of behaviour. An accepted code of behaviour may be entrenched in a formal document referred to as a code of conduct or similar. Industrial psychology (as a fully recognised profession within the field of psychology) is typically also guided by professional rules, regulations and codes of conduct. These codes occasionally include specific reference to the ethical components of the industrial psychologist’s activities and behaviours.
Research purpose: The study was based on the assumption that a recognised profession such as industrial psychology would broadly engage with the same professional rules, regulations, obligations, expectations and responsibilities across the globe. The question arose whether critical scrutiny of existing codes of conduct from other countries would have value in informing the development and improvement of a dedicated code of ethics within a specific context (South Africa, for example).
Motivation for the study: In South Africa, the profession of industrial psychology is regulated by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) who regulates and informs professional conduct, including aspects pertaining to professional ethics. All practicing industrial psychologists are by law required to register with the HPCSA. Alongside the legislated HPCSA, a professional association called the South African Society for Industrial and Organisational
Psychology (SIOPSA) provides further guidelines and codes of practice to direct and inform the professional behaviours of industrial psychologists. Membership of the latter is voluntary. The motivation for the study was an expressed need from SIOPSA to advance and improve these guidelines and codes to render industrial psychologists (in South Africa) fit for the future demands of their profession. This would include special attention to the ethical demands and challenges associated with the profession. The aim of the study was to explore the possibility of using a multinational comparison of codes of ethics as a means to inform the process, for South Africa specifically but for countries and regions generally.
Research design: A qualitative exploratory research design was selected and data was collected in the format of 20 Codes of Ethics from different countries across the globe. The codes were systematically analysed to explore the following aspects: (1) do these codes differ in format and style and if so, how; (2) do these codes differ in tone and if so, how; (3) is the content of these codes specific to industrial psychologists or generically applicable to all psychologists; (4) do these codes provide for all (or most) of the professional activities and functions and activities of industrial psychologists and if not, where do possible gaps exist; and on the basis hereof (5) could a multinational comparison serve to inform the development and improvement of a dedicated code of ethics for the profession of industrial psychology in South Africa?