Final answer:
The APA code of ethics, similar to the ASA's ethical guidelines, promotes integrity, objectivity, and professional responsibility in research. They include principles for conducting studies, using sources ethically, responsibly accepting funding, and publishing results in a way that protects subjects and maintains professionalism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The objectives that have always guided the APA (American Psychological Association) code of ethics, just like those of the American Sociological Association (ASA), include fostering ethical research and promoting professionally responsible scholarship within their respective fields. For sociologists, the ASA code of ethics encompasses principles like maintaining objectivity and integrity in research. This involves ensuring the ethical conduct of studies, proper sourcing, unbiased acceptance of funding, and ethical publication of results. In general, professional codes of ethics such as those issued by the IEEE Computer Society for software engineers stress on approving only ethically developed software, thereby promoting safety and not threatening the quality of human life, privacy, or the environment. These ethical codes are crucial to maintain professionalism and protect human subjects from physical or psychological harm. They address larger issues about moral theories and political debate while setting concrete ethical obligations for professionals. When working with human or animal subjects, ethical principles such as obtaining informed consent, respecting patients' rights, securing the approval of review boards, and maintaining confidentiality are paramount.