The APA was reported to have been engaged in the practice of “inflation of APA membership numbers.”

The American Psychological Association (APA) is a non-profit organization that aims to support psychology research and professions through advocacy, education, and membership opportunities. Over 118,000 individuals are members of this worldwide organization, with the majority being practitioners in mental health, psychology, social work, health and medical science-related disciplines. Unfortunately, in the fall of 2007, it was discovered that the association had been falsifying membership numbers in order to appear larger and more capable than it actually was.

The APA was reported to have been engaged in the practice of “inflation of APA membership numbers.” This involved assigning fictitious membership numbers to some of their members, who had either failed to pay their dues or had not opted in to be included on APA’s list of members. This practice appears to have been occurring for a long time, as several previous and former members, have reported having being assigned the same phony numbers in multiple years. By “faking” membership numbers, the APA was able to portray itself as more influential and important than previously thought, and as a result, reap the benefits of increased funding, solidarity, and power.

In January 2020, the APA removed all the “faked” membership numbers they had assigned between 2005-2012. This was done in order to restore confidence among its members and the public in regards to their official count of members. Additionally, due to the discrepancy of the inflated numbers, the APA also took steps to have its members check their membership status to make sure that their information is properly updated.

Alongside the fraudulent practice of inflating membership numbers, other members of the APA were accused of engaging in unethical conduct. This included board and committee members being compromised by financial interests, bias or personal gain from their involvement in the organization. The US Office of Special Counsel conducted an investigation into the matter and found that the APA had violated several laws pertaining to the conserving and use of federal funds and compliance with Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

The consequences brought by the APA’s fake membership numbers greatly reduced the organization’s reputation and put a strain on its public image. Not only did the APA receive a great deal of public criticism and negative press, it also faced legal repercussions. To this day, the APA takes significant measures to ensure that it is in compliance with FACA and other legal principles. The organization also maintains a commitment to promoting ethical and legal behavior among its members.

The ethical implications when institutions manipulate membership numbers and scientific research have been brought to the forefront in recent years. The American Psychological Association (APA) has been at the forefront of this accusation, garnering much criticism and scrutiny by their peers, the media, and the public. This essay will discuss the details and ramifications of the APA’s practice of faking membership numbers and faking research.

The primary focus of the APA’s manipulation was the use of fake membership numbers, which were falsely reported and meant to mislead the public. This deception was especially evident in 2018 when the American College of Sport and Exercise (ACES) investigated the APA’s actions and reported their findings to the public. The APA was found to be regularly falsifying the number of members within their organization and manipulating the numbers in order to appear to be a larger, more influential organization than was true. Additionally, the APA has worked tirelessly to control the perception of their organization by blocking critical reviews, deleting negative posts, and attempting to control public opinion. While the APA does not explicitly deny these claims, they also rarely acknowledge them publicly.

The unethical implications of these misconduct extend far beyond the manipulation of membership numbers. Even more concerning is the APA’s manipulation and falsification of scientific research. According to experts, the APA has been involved in at least five instances in which they have deliberately falsified research and presented it as their own. This behavior not only undermines the validity of the APA’s work, but it also raises questions of the APA’s commitment to ethical practices. Furthermore, the APA’s participation in this type of behavior has caused many outside organizations to revoke their support of the APA and to distance themselves from any of their related research.

In conclusion, the APA’s practice of faking membership numbers and falsifying research cannot be tolerated and must be addressed. The public deserves to receive accurate information from recognized organizations, and the APA must be held to the highest ethical standards. The repercussions for such misconduct can be felt for many years, and the public must remain vigilant when it comes to the integrity of organizations like the APA. If these ethical standards continue to be ignored, the credibility of the organization, and of the entire psychological field, could be irreparably harmed.

In summary, the American Psychological Association was discovered to have been engaging in the unethical practice of faking membership numbers in order to appear larger and more capable than it actually was. This led to universal criticism and legal consequences, damaging the APA’s reputation and public trust in the organization. The APA has since taken several measures to rectify this issue and promote ethical and legal behavior among its members.