SPCE 630 Module 8: Legal and
Ethical Issues in Special Education -
Exam Practice Questions and
Verified Answers With
Rationale/Instant download Pdf
Question 1
The core ethical principles of respect for persons,
beneficence, and justice are outlined in which foundational
document?
A) APA Guidelines
B) Belmont Report
C) Nuremberg Code
D) Declaration of Helsinki
Answer: B) Belmont Report
Rationale: The Belmont Report established the three
fundamental ethical principles for research involving human
subjects: respect for persons (autonomy and protection),
beneficence (maximizing benefits while minimizing harm), and
justice (fair distribution of benefits and burdens). These
principles form the foundation for many subsequent ethics
codes in education and behavioral health .
Question 2
,The same level of risk a participant would encounter in
daily life is called:
A) Minimal risk
B) Significant risk
C) Major risk
D) Average risk
Answer: A) Minimal risk
Rationale: Minimal risk means that the probability and
magnitude of harm or discomfort anticipated in the research
are not greater than those ordinarily encountered in daily life or
during routine physical or psychological examinations. This is a
key threshold concept for IRB review .
Question 3
The committee that examines proposed studies for human
participant safety and ethics is the:
A) Ethics Committee
B) Institutional Review Board (IRB)
C) Research Advisory Board
D) Human Rights Committee
Answer: B) Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Rationale: The IRB is responsible for reviewing all research
involving human subjects to ensure ethical standards are met,
participants are protected, and informed consent procedures
are properly implemented .
,SECTION B: CONFIDENTIALITY AND DUTY-TO-
WARN
Question 4
Which situation would NOT require you to break
confidentiality?
A) Your high school client states they plan to cause harm to
their younger sibling
B) Your middle school client implies parents have refused to
feed them for the past week
C) Your high school client tells you they smoked weed last week
and feel guilty
D) Your elementary client's files are subpoenaed during a
divorce trial
E) Your high school client informs you they plan to self-harm
Answer: C) Your high school client tells you they smoked
weed last week and feel guilty
Rationale: Despite marijuana use being illegal for minors, this
situation does not fall into any of the mandatory reporting
categories (imminent harm to self or others, child
abuse/neglect, or legal subpoena). There is no indication this
behavior could lead to imminent harm to the adolescent.
Confidentiality should be maintained while exploring the
client's feelings and potential consequences .
, Question 5
The requirement to inform property authorities if a client
expresses intent to harm themselves or others is known as:
A) Confidentiality
B) Privileged Communication
C) Duty to Warn
D) Informed Consent
Answer: C) Duty to Warn
Rationale: The Duty to Warn (also known as Duty to Protect) is
a legal obligation for mental health professionals to breach
confidentiality when a client poses a serious, imminent threat to
themselves or others. This duty stems from the Tarasoff
decision and is codified in many states' laws .
Question 6
What best describes the relationship between
confidentiality and privileged communication?
A) Confidentiality focuses on counselor's duty not to share
information; privileged communication relates to client's
expectation that information will not be shared
B) Both terms are legally identical
C) Privileged communication applies only to minors
D) Confidentiality is legally binding while privileged
communication is not
Ethical Issues in Special Education -
Exam Practice Questions and
Verified Answers With
Rationale/Instant download Pdf
Question 1
The core ethical principles of respect for persons,
beneficence, and justice are outlined in which foundational
document?
A) APA Guidelines
B) Belmont Report
C) Nuremberg Code
D) Declaration of Helsinki
Answer: B) Belmont Report
Rationale: The Belmont Report established the three
fundamental ethical principles for research involving human
subjects: respect for persons (autonomy and protection),
beneficence (maximizing benefits while minimizing harm), and
justice (fair distribution of benefits and burdens). These
principles form the foundation for many subsequent ethics
codes in education and behavioral health .
Question 2
,The same level of risk a participant would encounter in
daily life is called:
A) Minimal risk
B) Significant risk
C) Major risk
D) Average risk
Answer: A) Minimal risk
Rationale: Minimal risk means that the probability and
magnitude of harm or discomfort anticipated in the research
are not greater than those ordinarily encountered in daily life or
during routine physical or psychological examinations. This is a
key threshold concept for IRB review .
Question 3
The committee that examines proposed studies for human
participant safety and ethics is the:
A) Ethics Committee
B) Institutional Review Board (IRB)
C) Research Advisory Board
D) Human Rights Committee
Answer: B) Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Rationale: The IRB is responsible for reviewing all research
involving human subjects to ensure ethical standards are met,
participants are protected, and informed consent procedures
are properly implemented .
,SECTION B: CONFIDENTIALITY AND DUTY-TO-
WARN
Question 4
Which situation would NOT require you to break
confidentiality?
A) Your high school client states they plan to cause harm to
their younger sibling
B) Your middle school client implies parents have refused to
feed them for the past week
C) Your high school client tells you they smoked weed last week
and feel guilty
D) Your elementary client's files are subpoenaed during a
divorce trial
E) Your high school client informs you they plan to self-harm
Answer: C) Your high school client tells you they smoked
weed last week and feel guilty
Rationale: Despite marijuana use being illegal for minors, this
situation does not fall into any of the mandatory reporting
categories (imminent harm to self or others, child
abuse/neglect, or legal subpoena). There is no indication this
behavior could lead to imminent harm to the adolescent.
Confidentiality should be maintained while exploring the
client's feelings and potential consequences .
, Question 5
The requirement to inform property authorities if a client
expresses intent to harm themselves or others is known as:
A) Confidentiality
B) Privileged Communication
C) Duty to Warn
D) Informed Consent
Answer: C) Duty to Warn
Rationale: The Duty to Warn (also known as Duty to Protect) is
a legal obligation for mental health professionals to breach
confidentiality when a client poses a serious, imminent threat to
themselves or others. This duty stems from the Tarasoff
decision and is codified in many states' laws .
Question 6
What best describes the relationship between
confidentiality and privileged communication?
A) Confidentiality focuses on counselor's duty not to share
information; privileged communication relates to client's
expectation that information will not be shared
B) Both terms are legally identical
C) Privileged communication applies only to minors
D) Confidentiality is legally binding while privileged
communication is not
