Abstract

Social workers frequently encounter ethical dilemmas in their daily practice. This paper examines the utility of hierarchies of ethical principles as tools for ethical decision making. Because of limited research on this topic, the degree of agreement on ordering of ethical principles is unknown. This paper presents illustrative data that suggest variability in individual hierarchies and priorities, which may depend on the circumstances of a situation. Recommendations for using hierarchies of ethical principles in social work education and practice are discussed and a detailed example of how different hierarchies may lead to making different decisions is provided