Parker, "Scenario Analysis Methodology"
Notable because it is the first use of scenario methodology in computer ethics
SOURCE FOR THE PROCEDURE
Parker, Donn B. Ethical Conflicts in Computer Science and Technology. Menlo Park: SRI International, 1978.
This methodology became the basis for a 1978 NSF-sponsored workshop.
The workshop was repeated in 1987.
THE PROCEDURE ITSELF
- Identify the participants in the scenario.
- Identify the acts (or non-acts) the participants performed.
- For each act (or non-act), determine whether or not the act (or not-act) has ethical connotations.
- Would you classify the act as unethical?
- Would you classify the act as not unethical?
- Would you classify the act as not an ethics issue?
- Justify your classifications.
- What were the relevant factors?
- What ethical judgments did you make?
- What normative principles did you apply?
- Construct variations of the original scenario, and apply this method to each variation.
- Discuss your results with others who have applied all of the previous steps.
WALT'S CHECKLIST
The same checklist was applied to all procedures.
- This method is most useful when the DECISION-MAKER ...
- has easy access to advisors, consultants or role-players [step 6]
- has plenty of time for investigation and analysis
- is skilled in case-based, precedent-based or example-based reasoning [step 5]
- is skilled in the application of general ethical principles to specific cases [step 4c]
- This method is most useful in a SITUATION ...
- that will change little over time
- This method is most useful when STAKEHOLDERS ...
- share ethical principles [step 4c]
