Core principle
The ethical goal is harm reduction: help users understand patterns in their answers while avoiding over-claiming, stigmatizing labels, or unsafe suggestions. Most online questionnaires should be framed as screening and self-reflection tools, not diagnosis.
1) Avoid diagnostic claims
- Do not state or imply that a score equals a clinical diagnosis.
- Use language like “may be consistent with,” “screening,” “risk level,” “pattern of responses.”
- Encourage professional evaluation when distress is significant, persistent, or impairing.
2) Communicate uncertainty clearly
- Scores are estimates and can shift with context (sleep, stress, life events).
- Symptoms overlap across conditions (one score can have multiple explanations).
- Cutoffs are thresholds for screening categories, not absolute truths.
3) Prevent catastrophizing
Results should not escalate fear. A responsible result page:
- Focuses on practical next steps (sleep, coping, support, monitoring).
- Encourages reflection on context and functioning.
- Avoids deterministic statements (“you have X,” “this will get worse”).
4) Safety and crisis guidance
- Include clear safety language for crisis situations (self-harm risk, severe distress).
- Encourage contacting local emergency services when needed.
- Do not provide instructions that could be harmful.
If you feel at risk of harming yourself or are in immediate danger, contact local emergency services right away.
5) Privacy transparency
Users deserve clarity about data. Ethical practice includes:
- Clear privacy policy and cookie policy.
- Consent choices for analytics/ads where applicable.
- Plain-language explanation of what is collected and why.
- Avoid collecting sensitive data unless necessary.
6) Practical next steps (what to do with results)
- Review the items that felt most true.
- Check impact on sleep, work, relationships, daily routines.
- Monitor over time (repeat under similar conditions).
- Choose one small action (coping strategy, support conversation, habit change).
- Seek professional support if distress is significant or persistent.
Related reading
Explore tests
Browse screening and self-reflection tools here: All Tests.
FAQ
Can an online psychological test diagnose a disorder?
Most online tests cannot diagnose. They are typically screening and self-reflection tools. Diagnosis requires broader clinical assessment including context, duration, impairment, history and differential considerations.
What is the most ethical way to interpret a high score?
Treat it as a signal to reflect and consider next steps, not as proof. Review context, duration, impact on functioning, and consider professional support if distress is significant or persistent.
What privacy issues should users consider?
Check what data is collected, whether answers are stored, how data is used or shared, and what choices exist (consent, opt-out, deletion where applicable).