Abstract

Neuropsychologists' ethical beliefs and practices regarding issues of informed consent, confidentiality, release of information, feedback, routinely appending raw data to reports, malingering and legal issues, and the handling of archival data for research were surveyed. Five hundred and eighty-one neuropsychologists, representing twenty-five percent of the professional membership roster for two professional groups were sampled with an overall response rate of 40.4% and a usable response rate of 38%. National Academy of Neuropsychology respondents returned 189 usable surveys and the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology respondents returned 35 usable surveys. Overall, the two groups were similar in their responses. There were some differences in the professional background section that provided the overall impression that AACN members were more focused on the specialty of neuropsychology. Significant differences between the two groups regarding some practices of feedback and a legal issue were found. Significant differences between the two groups regarding some ethical beliefs in feedback and research sections were also found. Overall, eleven of the thirty-three behaviors listed in the survey were identified as majority practices, indicating a consensus in how respondents practice the behavior. Thirteen of the behaviors were identified as majority beliefs, indicating a consensus in respondents ethical beliefs regarding certain practices. Only seven of the thirty-three behaviors indicated a consensus regarding the practice of the behavior and the belief of whether it was ethical. The importance of these areas in the neuropsychology literature is addressed