Deck 5: Professionalism and Ethics

Question 1

Edward L.Bernays for decades pointed to the absence of which one of the following as a major factor keeping public relations from being recognized as a profession?

A)Licensing
B)Specialized education
C)Continuing education units
D)Community recognition of the function
E)Codes of ethics and grievance boards

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Although all of the following apply, which one is the primary purpose for establishing professional codes of ethics and standards of performance?
A.Protect the clients
B.Maintain the public trust
C.Protect the professional franchise
D.Support professional privileges
E.Enable a field to become a profession

Answer 2

primary A

Question 3

Opponents of licensing for public relations practitioners raise what Constitutional issue(s)as the major obstacle(s)to state licensing in the United States?

A)Compelling state interest and freedom of expression
B)Freedom of individual choice protected by the Constitution
C)Differences in "public relations" practiced in one state compared to in another
D)Imposition of educational requirements and testing is unconstitutional
E)Tenth Amendment forbids regulation of occupations and admission to practice

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Textbooks in public relations support which one of the following indicators of professional status?

A)Professional associations
B)Specialized educational preparation
C)Codes of ethics
D)Acceptance of personal responsibility by practitioners
E)Community recognition that public relations is a unique and essential service

Question 5

Ultimately, public relations is judged by its impact on society.Which one of the following is NOT considered a social benefit of public relations practice?

A)Public relations practitioners strive to develop recommendations concerning communication strategy in the marketing plan and help management relate decisions to corporate goals.
B)By emphasizing the need for public approval, practitioners improve the conduct of the organizations they serve.
C)Practitioners serve the public interest by making all points of view articulate in the public forum.
D)Practitioners serve our segmented, scattered society by using their talents of communication and mediation to replace misinformation with information, discord with rapport.
E)Ethical public relations practice contributes to clarification of public issues, not to distortion or obfuscation.

Question 6

The argument that licensing would "professionalize the practice" has no legal basis because:

A)Controversy is not sufficient cause to regulate a practice
B)Licensing cannot be imposed simply for the benefit of an occupational group
C)There simply is no valid and reliable way to test those entering the practice
D)It is not constitutional to impose educational requirements and testing
E)The Tenth Amendment forbids regulation of occupations and admission to practice

Question 7

Suppose you take a class on how to conduct surveys.This class would fall into which of the following areas of study recommended by the Commission on Public Relations Education?

A)theory and principles
B)ethics and law
C)planning and management
D)research, measurement and evaluation
E)writing and production

Question 8

Codes of ethics for public relations practitioners have little impact unless they are accepted and applied by their employers.Which two of the following practices is NOT used by public relations firms to encourage ethical practice among their employees?

A)Holding regular training sessions on ethical issues D and
B)Making sure that employees know they will be supported by the firm when they make difficult ethical choices
C)Requiring new employees to sign an agreement that obligates them to practice according to the PRSA Code of Ethics
D)Requiring all new employees to have taken at least three of the five courses he Commission on Public Relations Education
E)Requiring all new employees to be accredited in public relations (APR)

Question 9

Which of the following core principles from the PRSA Code of Ethics requires practitioners to "be honest and accurate in all communications"?

A)Free flow of information
B)Competition
C)Disclosure of information
D)Safeguard confidences
E)Enhancing the profession

Question 10

The "fiduciary relationship" differentiates professionals from other skilled practitioners.Which one of the following best represents the nature of a fiduciary relationship?

A)Society extends certain privileges to professionals because of the value and trust they also receive from society.
B)Clients actually pay the practitioner directly, with no middle person involved.
C)Professionals hold you and your possessions in trust, and are obliged to act in your best interest.
D)Professionals should fulfill expectations and moral obligations that are expected of them by society.
E)A professional's actions should create the greatest good for the client and the community as a whole, rather than enhance the position of the practitioner.

Question 11

Which organization provides leadership in unifying public relations practitioners worldwide under a common vision: "One profession, one voice"?

A)International Public Relations Association
B)International Association of Business Communicators
C)International Communications Consultancy Organization
D)Universal Accreditation Board
E)Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management

Question 12

Although public relations is an unlicensed field, practitioners may obtain a form of professional status and credentialing by which of the following?

A)Earning accreditation in public relations
B)Obtaining a master's degree from an accredited university
C)Establishing their own personal code of ethics
D)Participating in continuing education programs
E)Joining the Public Relations Society of America

Question 13

One of the foundational research projects in public relations was the study of Excellence in Public Relations and Communication Management, conducted in the 1980s.This project was supported by a grant from which organization?

A)Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations
B)IABC Research Foundation
C)The Arthur W.Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication
D)Institute for Public Relations
E)PRSA Foundation

Question 14

Which organization was formed in 1947, is headquartered in New York, and is the largest professional organization serving the field?

A)Chartered Institute of Public Relations
B)International Association of Business Communicators
C)Public Relations Society of America
D)National Association of Government Communicators
E)International Public Relations Association

Question 15

According to the late Edward L.Bernays and other advocates, licensing is necessary to preserve the well-being of society by doing which one of the following?

A)Regulating the access to top posts in the field to the most senior practitioners
B)Excluding those who are not members of professional associations
C)Creating an elite of public relations practitioners
D)Excluding those not properly qualified
E)Achieving better wages for licensed practitioners

Question 16

The body of knowledge is documented in both scholarly and trade publications.Which of the following publications is targeted primarily to practitioners, with articles about their day-to-day problems and techniques to overcome them?

A)Public Relations Tactics
B)Public Relations Strategist
C)Journal of Public Relations Research
D)Public Relations Review
E)PR Week

Question 17

Practitioners who successfully complete the Universal Accreditation Board's portfolio presentation, panel interview, and computer-based examination are allowed to use which of the following after their names?

A)Licensed in Public Relations
B)Accredited in Public Relations
C)Accredited Business Communicator
D)Certified in Public Relations
E)Board Certified in Public Relations

Question 18

Which of the following professional values from the PRSA Code of Ethics requires practitioners to "adhere to the highest standards of accuracy and truth ...in communicating with the public"?

A)Advocacy
B)Honesty
C)Independence
D)Loyalty
E)Fairness

Question 19

Many public relations leaders have argued that public relations should act as the ______________ of their organization.

A)technology leader
B)overall marketing coordinator
C)ethical conscience
D)categorical imperative
E)universal communicator