The CASPer test is a standardized online test used by many universities and programs to evaluate an applicant's personal and professional characteristics, including their ethics. Ethics is one of the 10 character traits assessed by the CASPer raters. Scoring well on the ethics component of the CASPer test can be challenging, but with the right approach, you can increase your chances of achieving a high score.
The CASPer raters do not expect that you have taken a course in ethics and respond to ethical questions using ethical jargon. However, basic knowledge of moral and ethical behavior is crucial when responding to CASPer scenarios.
If you are writing the CASPer test for programs in the healthcare field such as medicine, an understanding of medical ethics can be helpful. However, if you are writing the CASPer test for non-healthcare related fields such as teaching, it is recommended to go over ethical scenarios that are common in that field of work and avoid breaking general ethical guidelines.
Independent of the CASPer test that you attempt, is important not to break the following general ethical guidelines on your CASPer responses:
Honesty
Honesty is a fundamental ethical principle in any professional or group setting. It is essential to always be truthful and transparent with your colleagues and stakeholders.
Transparency
It is essential to be open and transparent in your communications and interactions with colleagues and stakeholders.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is also a critical ethical principle in professional and group settings. It is essential to protect sensitive information and respect the privacy of others.
Fairness
Fairness is an essential ethical principle in professional and group settings. It is essential to treat everyone equally and provide equal opportunities to all.
Respect
Respect is a fundamental ethical principle that should guide your interactions with colleagues and stakeholders. It is essential to treat others with dignity.
Conflict of interest
It is essential to avoid conflicts of interest in professional and group settings. This means avoiding situations where personal interests may conflict with the interests of the group or organization.
Objectivity
It is essential to be objective and impartial in your decision-making, and to avoid favoritism or bias.
Non-discrimination
It is essential to avoid discrimination on any basis such as race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.
Safety
It is essential to prioritize the safety and well-being of all individuals in the workplace.
Sustainability
It is essential to consider the impact of your actions on the environment and future generations.
Lawfulness
It is essential to comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
If you are writing the CASPer test for entrance into a healthcare related field, understanding the following basic medical ethics principles can become handy.
Respect for Autonomy
This principle involves respecting patients' right to make decisions about their own healthcare. Students should understand that patients have the right to be informed about their health conditions, treatment options, and potential risks and benefits of treatment, and they should be able to make informed decisions based on their own values and preferences.
Beneficence
This principle involves doing what is in the best interest of the patient. Students should strive to provide the best possible care to their patients and make decisions that maximize their patients' well-being.
Non-maleficence
This principle involves avoiding harm to the patient. Students should not cause harm to their patients and should take steps to prevent harm when possible.
Justice
This principle involves treating patients fairly and distributing resources fairly. Students should be aware of issues of health care disparities and work to promote fairness and equity in health care.
Confidentiality
This principle involves protecting patients' privacy and keeping their personal health information confidential. Students should understand the importance of maintaining patient confidentiality and should take steps to protect patient privacy.
informed consent
involves obtaining patients' permission before providing treatment or conducting procedures
Capacity
refers to a patient's ability to understand and make decisions regarding their own medical care.
In healthcare related ethical scenarios there could be times where two or more of the above ethical principles coincide.
Respect for Autonomy vs. Beneficence
In some situations, patients may refuse treatment that would be in their best interest. For example, a patient may refuse chemotherapy for cancer because of the side effects. In this case, the principle of respect for autonomy conflicts with the principle of beneficence. Medical professionals need to prioritize the patient's autonomy if the patient has the capacity to give consent and respect their decision, even if it goes against their best interests.
Confidentiality vs. Beneficence
In some situations, medical professionals may need to share confidential patient information to prevent harm to the patient or others. For example, if a patient reveals that they are planning to harm themselves or others, medical professionals have a duty to share that information with the appropriate authorities. In this case, the principle of confidentiality conflicts with the principle of beneficence. Medical professionals need to prioritize beneficence by taking steps to prevent harm to the patient or others, even if it means breaking confidentiality.
You do not have to become an expert on medical ethics and you do not have to use these terms when responding to CASPer scenarios. However, an understanding of these principles can help you solve complex problems on the CASPer test. There are many youtube channels which you can use that go over basic medical ethics such as Dirtymedicine (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JkRncMz9xc&list=PL5rTEahBdxV5szNYtMDCm7YuiG51WUnZV)
Preparing for the CASPer test involves not only familiarizing oneself with these ethical principles, but also learning how to apply them in different scenarios. By understanding these ethical principles and developing strong situational judgment skills, you can score higher on the ethical component of the CASPer test.