On February 14, 2022, the APSA Council unanimously approved an update and revision to the APSA Guide to Professional Ethics in Political Science. The APSA Ethics Guide is intended to provide a clear statement of ethical principles that are particularly valuable for political scientists—including faculty, students, administrators and practitioners. The APSA Committee on Professional Ethics Rights and Freedoms led the revision project, with support from the APSA staff. Read the updated Ethics Guide at https://apsanet.org/ethics. The third edition of the Guide contains updates and new sections on topics not previously addressed. Among the updates and new sections are:
• research principles for human subjects
• issues arising from conflict of interest
• issues related to teaching and mentoring
• the use of big data and commercial data
• clarification on the handling of individual complaints
• policies and procedures regarding sexual harassment, professional misconduct and discrimination
• conduct when using the internet, virtual and social media platforms
• the purpose and roles of teaching evaluations
• issues arising from intellectual property and open access
• identity protection
The updated guide also includes sections detailing the new member revocation policy, the addition of gender-neutral terms, and reminders of the APSA RESPECT Campaign which states that all individuals, regardless of personal demographic characteristics or real and perceived identity should always be treated with respect. In addition to serving as a resource for ethical principles in the profession, the guide can also be used as a professional development resource when teaching about ethical behavior in the profession.
APSA and the Committee welcome your feedback or questions. To share your feedback on the revised guide, please email the Committee at [email protected]. ■
