A local shelter that receives funding from the National Institute of Health and Mental Health

A local shelter that receives funding from the National Institute of Health and Mental Health

A local shelter that receives funding from the National Institute of Health and Mental Health

A local shelter that receives funding from the National Institute of Health and Mental Health is upgrading its website.

Assignment: Kate Phylis PhD

A local shelter that receives funding from the National Institute of Health and Mental Health is upgrading its website. Along with several upgrades to the website, the web developer/consultant makes a suggestion that the shelter add a testimonial page where local citizens can describe their positive interactions with the shelter and its services. Since the web developer/consultant want to get that page up and running first, the developer suggests using some positive ratings and responses from Angie’s List® and other similar ratings sites that already have positive stories and experiences with the shelter.

The director of the shelter loves the idea of a testimonial page. She thinks it would really add to the community feel of the shelter. However, knowing her funding source, she researches the APA Ethics Code and believes the shelter would be acting inappropriately. To discuss the matter in further detail, the director of the shelter calls you for an ethics consult.

Adapted from: http://www.ethicalpsychology.com/2012/06/vignette-14-psychology-of-advertizing.html

In 500-750 words, explain the advice you would give:

Describe the ethical issues involved in this situation.
Discuss any other concerns about the web developer/consultant’s strategies.
Explain some recommendations that you would make to the shelter.
Use two to three scholarly sources to support your claims.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.