Test Bank for Practice of Public Relations 15th Edition by Seitel
ISBN: 9780135442852
The Practice of Public Relations, 15e (Seitel)
Chapter 6 Ethics
1) In the opening scenario for Chapter 6, the actions of Jussie Smollett demonstrate that ________.
A) it isn't worth lying to gain an edge in business, politics, or media
B) ethical entertainers should never discuss politics
C) doing the right thing is best, but spin may be necessary at times
D) no publicity is bad publicity
Answer: A
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Application
LO: 6.1: Discuss the one aspect that should differentiate public relations from the law and other business pursuits: ethics.
AACSB: Application of knowledge
2) The cardinal rule of public relations is to ________.
A) lie if it is in the best interest of the client
B) write a tell-all book revealing why your CEO lied
C) do what is legal, even if it is not ethical
D) never lie
Answer: D
Difficulty: 1: Easy
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.1: Discuss the one aspect that should differentiate public relations from the law and other business pursuits: ethics.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
3) Which of the following principles lies at the heart of the ethical practice of public relations?
A) Brokering agreements with media to refrain from reporting news
B) Stonewalling when it is in the best interest of a client
C) Doing the right thing
D) Selectively telling the truth
Answer: C
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.1: Discuss the one aspect that should differentiate public relations from the law and other business pursuits: ethics.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
4) "Do what is right, though the world should perish" is associated with which ethical theory?
A) Utilitarianism
B) Deontology
C) Confucianism
D) Aristotelian
Answer: B
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.1: Discuss the one aspect that should differentiate public relations from the law and other business pursuits: ethics.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
5) The "golden rule" prescribes doing that which ________.
A) demonstrates loving your neighbor as yourself
B) brings the greatest happiness for the greatest number
C) does the least harm to the least number
D) could become accepted practice
Answer: A
Difficulty: 1: Easy
Skill: Application
LO: 6.1: Discuss the one aspect that should differentiate public relations from the law and other business pursuits: ethics.
AACSB: Application of knowledge
6) The "golden mean of moral virtue" advocates doing that which ________.
A) does the least harm to the greatest number B) brings the greatest happiness for the greatest number C) is found between two extremes
D) you deem to be the societal standard
Answer: C
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.1: Discuss the one aspect that should differentiate public relations from the law and other business pursuits: ethics.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
7) In a turn of the century survey of public relations executives, ________ admitted that they lied on the job.
A) 10%
B) 25%
C) 39%
D) 44%
Answer: B
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Application
LO: 6.1: Discuss the one aspect that should differentiate public relations from the law and other business pursuits: ethics.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
8) Which of the following is NOT a basic value that the PRSA Code of Ethics 2000 addresses?
A) Honesty
B) Loyalty
C) Fairness
D) Authenticity
Answer: D
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.1: Discuss the one aspect that should differentiate public relations from the law and other business pursuits: ethics.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
9) Professional ethics ________.
A) is often called applied ethics
B) suggests that distinctly different professional conduct is acceptable
C) precludes the need for a formal code of ethics
D) is another name for informal ethics
Answer: A
Difficulty: 3: Challenging
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.1: Discuss the one aspect that should differentiate public relations from the law and other business pursuits: ethics.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
10) As the "conscience" of an organization, public relations practitioners should ________.
A) advocate to divulge everything about the organizations for which they work
B) always remember to ask, "Are we doing the right thing?"
C) advocate to impose rigorous regulations against corporate criminals
D) ignore criticism that business ethics are non-existent
Answer: B
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Application
LO: 6.1: Discuss the one aspect that should differentiate public relations from the law and other business pursuits: ethics.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
11) According to the Pew Research Center, ________ of people between the ages of 18 to 29 had a very positive or somewhat positive impression of capitalism in 2022.
A) 5%
B) 16%
C) 40%
D) 73%
Answer: C
Difficulty: 3: Challenging
Skill: Application
LO: 6.2: Discuss ethics–or the lack thereof–in today's business, government, media, and public relations cultures.
AACSB: Application of knowledge
12) The ethical challenge for businesses and CEOs is to ________.
A) keep their inner workings opaque so as not to arouse negative interest
B) keep legal counsel on staff to defend any management members involved in scandals
C) restore confidence in the business system and companies they represent D) increase philanthropy efforts when they are in disfavor with the public
Answer: C
Difficulty: 3: Challenging
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.2: Discuss ethics–or the lack thereof–in today's business, government, media, and public relations cultures.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
13) Which of the following is a reason to have a corporate code of conduct?
A) To avoid having to respond to media inquiries about transgressions
B) To increase profits for publicly-owned businesses
C) To increase public confidence
D) To influence legislators to pass more up-to-date reform bills
Answer: C
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.2: Discuss ethics–or the lack thereof–in today's business, government, media, and public relations cultures.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
14) A code of conduct ________.
A) is an informal statement
B) must be a sophisticated document
C) may be a short mission statement
D) falls short of dictating behavioral expectations
Answer: C
Difficulty: 3: Challenging
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.2: Discuss ethics–or the lack thereof–in today's business, government, media, and public relations cultures.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
15) If journalists were to follow the code of ethics published by the Society of Professional Journalists, they would ________.
A) fulfill their readers' curiosity for details about people with addictions
B) fight for the right to publish unofficial charges affecting a person's reputation
C) show respect for the dignity of people encountered in the course of news-gathering
D) act in a dependent manner, working alongside government officials
Answer: C
Difficulty: 3: Challenging
Skill: Application
LO: 6.3: Discuss the concept of corporate social responsibility.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
16) From the statements below, which one BEST describes the current state of ethics in government?
A) Instances of conflicts of interest have decreased at the federal level.
B) Surprisingly, no politicians were exposed for unethical practices in 2018.
C) The hard right and the hard left are finally beginning to compromise.
D) Politicians seem to be losing more ground in terms of trustworthiness and ethical values.
Answer: D
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Application
LO: 6.3: Discuss the concept of corporate social responsibility.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
17) The essence of corporate social responsibility is to ________.
A) increase profitability so the tax rate can be lowered
B) manage business processes so there is a positive impact on society
C) act only if it is worth the time to enhance the social image of an organization
D) avoid having to respond to being asked about transgressions
Answer: B
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.3: Discuss the concept of corporate social responsibility.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
18) Which of the following would NOT be a socially responsible activity of a business?
A) Providing a healthy and safe working environment
B) Avoiding discrimination in hiring, promoting, and retaining the best people available
C) Taking a safety shortcut in product manufacturing to cut costs for the consumer
D) Manufacturing safe products that perform well and do not negatively impact the environment
Answer: C
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Application
LO: 6.3: Discuss the concept of corporate social responsibility.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
19) Which of the following indicates the degree to which an organization is socially responsible?
A) Adhering to standards for a safe, clean environment
B) Following social investing advice suggested by certified financial planners
C) Supporting not-for-profit organizations that advocate foreign investments
D) Hiring only people who have been underrepresented in your organization
Answer: A
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Application
LO: 6.3: Discuss the concept of corporate social responsibility.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
20) The social responsibility category of external relations would involve ________.
A) sales practices, consumer complaint policies, advertising content, and fair pricing
B) support of minority enterprises, investment practices, and government dealings
C) contribution performance and encouragement of employee participation in social projects
D) work environment policies and accident safeguards
Answer: B
Difficulty: 3: Challenging
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.3: Discuss the concept of corporate social responsibility.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
21) An organization's social responsibility image is often determined by its ________.
A) desire to earn a profit above all else
B) focus on being the number one patron of the arts
C) attention to ethics and improving the quality of life for people
D) focus on looking good rather than doing the right thing
Answer: C
Difficulty: 3: Challenging
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.3: Discuss the concept of corporate social responsibility.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
22) In response to waning confidence in the Supreme Court and its impartiality, the Court decided to institute a code of ethics, which ________.
A) remedied the issue with most of the public
B) won them favor of the public but not legal experts
C) was the first in a series of actions that helped the court reach record levels of public faith
D) wasn't binding and so failed to address the public's trust issues
Answer: D
Difficulty: 3: Challenging
Skill: Application
LO: 6.3: Discuss the concept of corporate social responsibility.
AACSB: Application of knowledge
23) By 2024, Americans' trust in media was about ________.
A) 5%
B) 15%
C) 30%
D) 65%
Answer: C
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Application
LO: 6.4: Recognize the bedrock importance of public relations professionals "doing the right thing."
AACSB: Application of knowledge
24) Which of the following is a characteristic of the attorney/adversary model of ethics?
A) The only obligation of practitioners is to do what is in the public interest.
B) The emphasis on collaboration regardless of the record of other parties.
C) There is an obligation to consider any outside view beyond that of a client.
D) Like PR professionals, attorneys serve as advocates in adversarial climates.
Answer: D
Difficulty: 3: Challenging
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.4: Recognize the bedrock importance of public relations professionals "doing the right thing."
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
25) The two-way communication model for ethics ________.
A) was developed by Barney and Black
B) was developed by Hunt
C) is based on collaboration and allows for listening and give-and-take
D) assumes counterbalancing messages will be provided by the sender and receiver
Answer: C
Difficulty: 3: Challenging
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.4: Recognize the bedrock importance of public relations professionals "doing the right thing."
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
26) What is central to the enlightened self-interest model for ethical practice?
A) Balancing the role of department advocate with the needs of the organization
B) Realizing that an organization does well by doing good
C) Assuming that advocating for society is more important than advocating for the organization
D) Assuming counterbalancing messages are in the best interest of an organization
Answer: B
Difficulty: 3: Challenging
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.4: Recognize the bedrock importance of public relations professionals "doing the right thing."
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
27) The responsible advocacy model of ethics ________.
A) is based on the ideals of professional responsibility
B) means that practitioners should act as "outside interpreters"
C) states that practitioners' first loyalty is to financial stockholders
D) is no longer a useful model in the 21st century
Answer: A
Difficulty: 3: Challenging
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.4: Recognize the bedrock importance of public relations professionals "doing the right thing."
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
28) Which ethical model suggests that the PR professional's greatest need for ethical guidance lies in the reconciliation of being both a professional advocate and a social conscience?
A) Responsible advocacy
B) Attorney/adversary
C) Enlightened self-interest
D) Two-way communication
Answer: A
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.4: Recognize the bedrock importance of public relations professionals "doing the right thing."
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
29) Which of PRSA's ethical core values would practitioners demonstrate if they refuse to "embellish" the performance the company expects to achieve at the request of the client?
A) Honesty
B) Fairness
C) Expertise
D) Loyalty
Answer: A
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Application
LO: 6.4: Recognize the bedrock importance of public relations professionals "doing the right thing."
AACSB: Application of knowledge
30) Ethics ________ the great differentiator between public relations and other professions. A) should be B) never was C) may someday be D) cannot be
Answer: A
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Application
LO: 6.4: Recognize the bedrock importance of public relations professionals "doing the right thing."
AACSB: Application of knowledge
31) Which ethical model allows for both listening and give-and-take?
A) Responsible advocacy
B) Attorney/adversary
C) Enlightened self-interest
D) Two-way communication
Answer: D
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Application
LO: 6.4: Recognize the bedrock importance of public relations professionals "doing the right thing."
AACSB: Application of knowledge
32) The use of AI in public relations practice ________.
A) is decreasing across the board
B) is increasing in research only
C) is introducing ethical challenges
D) has proven to be a failure
Answer: C
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.5: Identify the ethical challenges introduced by the use of AI in public relations.
AACSB: Analytical thinking
33) There are risks associated with AI in all of the following areas EXCEPT ________.
A) honesty
B) efficiency
C) accuracy
D) fairness
Answer: B
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.5: Identify the ethical challenges introduced by the use of AI in public relations.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
34) When AI introduces factual errors, misinformation, and bias, what effect is this most likely to have?
A) Erosion of the organization's credibility
B) Increased trust by the audience
C) Evaporation of audience's skepticism
D) Increased profits for the organization
Answer: A
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.5: Identify the ethical challenges introduced by the use of AI in public relations.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
35) Ethically suspect AI-generated data are always possible because ________.
A) AI technology has its own inherent prejudices
B) AI algorithms occasionally misfire in unfair ways
C) inefficiency can cause discriminatory results
D) human biases are involved in the input used by AIs
Answer: D
Difficulty: 3: Challenging
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.5: Identify the ethical challenges introduced by the use of AI in public relations.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
36) In the opening scenario for Chapter 6, after doubts surfaced as to the veracity of his claims about being the victim of a racially motivated attack, actor Jussie Smollet proved that no publicity is bad publicity.
Answer: FALSE
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Application
LO: 6.1: Discuss the one aspect that should differentiate public relations from the law and other business pursuits: ethics.
AACSB: Application of knowledge
37) Credibility begins with justifying a client's inappropriate or unfortunate actions.
Answer: FALSE
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.1: Discuss the one aspect that should differentiate public relations from the law and other business pursuits: ethics.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
38) The cardinal rule in public relations, to never lie, may have to be broken on occasion, if a client's best interests are at stake.
Answer: FALSE
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Application
LO: 6.1: Discuss the one aspect that should differentiate public relations from the law and other business pursuits: ethics.
AACSB: Application of knowledge
39) Ethics may be described as the values that guide a person, organization, or society.
Answer: TRUE
Difficulty: 1: Easy
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.1: Discuss the one aspect that should differentiate public relations from the law and other business pursuits: ethics.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
40) Utilitarianism means considering the individual good when necessary, rather than what may be best for the group.
Answer: FALSE
Difficulty: 1: Easy
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.1: Discuss the one aspect that should differentiate public relations from the law and other business pursuits: ethics.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
41) Independence and fairness are among the six values in the code of ethics for the Public Relations Society of America.
Answer: TRUE
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.1: Discuss the one aspect that should differentiate public relations from the law and other business pursuits: ethics.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
42) Confucius, the sage Chinese philosopher, emphasized, among other virtues, the importance of building relationships.
Answer: TRUE
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Application
LO: 6.1: Discuss the one aspect that should differentiate public relations from the law and other business pursuits: ethics.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
43) "Professional ethics" are often referred to as "situational ethics."
Answer: FALSE
Difficulty: 2: Moderate Skill: Concept
LO: 6.1: Discuss the one aspect that should differentiate public relations from the law and other business pursuits: ethics.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning
44) In a survey at the turn of the century, 44% of respondents said they had felt uncertain about the ethics of what they did.
Answer: TRUE
Difficulty: 2: Moderate
Skill: Concept
LO: 6.1: Discuss the one aspect that should differentiate public relations from the law and other business pursuits: ethics.
AACSB: Ethical understanding and reasoning