Page 16 - Winter Newsletter 2015

Online Assessment in Sport

and Exercise Psychology:

Ethical Issues and Best Practice

Recommendations

Edward Brandonn S.
Edward Etzel, EdD, CC-AASP, West Virginia University

Brandonn S. Harris, PhD, CC-AASP, Georgia Southern University
ETZEL HARRIS

These days, one does not need to explore (e.g., college-level athletes). Some are commonplace and seemingly innocuous

online very long to locate all manner of applied ‘one-shot’ assessments, while others are (perhaps even expected by some younger

sport psychology assessment instruments. designed to measure and monitor change tech-savvy consumers), assessment

Seemingly, countless consultants or groups in selected performance markers and and testing in fact should be considered

of performance psychology providers offer variables of interest.
as serious business with potentially

various forms of screening instruments. A very grave consequences for both users and
Supericially, these online methods appear
recent Google search on this topic revealed in practitioners alike (Pope, n.d.). Although such
to have some utility for both interested

.31 seconds 19,000 related hits on the topic!
forms of assessment may provide advantages
prospective clients and interested
in speed, convenience, and data storage
What are the purposes of these instruments service providers. For example, the use
capability, these beneits may in turn make
and unstandardized tests? It appears that of such tests carry advantages including
such tools vulnerable to ethical dilemmas
they are frequently designed to provide some a low-cost convenience to the test-taker
(Carlson & Harvey, 2004). These may include
sort screening - insight into respondent’s and shortened speed in administration.

mental skills, strength, and shortcomings, and/ They may also provide nearly immediate issues of competency, conidentiality of data

generated from internet-based assessments,
or potential for seeking the consultation of feedback on selected performance-related
concerns regarding how/which services will
performance psychology providers via online, variables. Further, respondents may or may
be provided in various formats, and state
other indirect electronic communication not remain anonymous.
boundary jurisdictions (Cunningham, Lloyd, &
(telephone), or some other form of consulting
For AASP member providers engaged Farro, 2011).
appointment. While some online instruments
in these services, there are many
appear ‘free,’ others are fee-based and may A quick look at the AASP Ethics Code
assessments and technology-related

lead to potential business between curious provides some general insight from the Code’s
ethical issues associated with these
clients and service providers. Some of these Principles, with more speciic guidance
practices. Online assessments act like the
methods are designed for speciic sports (e.g., included in its Standards. For example,
proverbial “double-edged sword,” offering
tennis, golf, baseball), while others are more Principle A states that sport and exercise
both potential beneits and risks associated
general in nature, targeting certain populations
psychology practitioners “provide only those
with their use and administration. While

AASP Newsletter // Winter 2015 // Online Assessment in Sport and Exercise Psychology: Ethical Issues and Best Practice Recommendations

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