Ethical Use of IRIS

IRIS is a behavioral assessment designed to support insight, development, and informed decision-making.

Ethical use protects participants, strengthens interpretation, and preserves the integrity of the assessment process.

1. Use IRIS for Development and Insight — Not Diagnosis

IRIS is not a clinical instrument and does not diagnose mental health conditions.

It measures behavioral tendencies, motivational patterns, relational styles, and character orientations.

Do not use IRIS to:

• Label or pathologize individuals

• Make clinical determinations

• Infer mental health diagnoses

If clinical concerns arise, refer participants to appropriate licensed professionals.

2. Interpret Results in Context

IRIS results reflect patterns — not fixed traits.

Responsible interpretation requires:

• Considering role and situational context

• Reviewing validity indicators

• Avoiding overgeneralization

• Engaging participants in dialogue

Scores do not define a person. They describe tendencies at a point in time.

3. Protect Confidentiality

Assessment results are personal data.

Users should:

• Share reports only with appropriate consent

• Limit access based on role permissions

• Avoid distributing results beyond agreed-upon use

Participants should understand:

• Who will see their results

• How the data will be used

• Whether results affect hiring or development decisions

Transparency builds trust.

4. Avoid Deterministic Decision-Making

IRIS should inform decisions — not replace judgment.

Do not use IRIS as the sole factor for:

• Hiring or promotion decisions

• Compensation decisions

• Termination decisions

Use IRIS as one data point among interviews, performance data, references, and observed behavior.

5. Address Validity Before Interpretation

If a survey is flagged for low validity:

• Do not interpret the results as reliable

• Investigate potential causes

• Retake the survey if appropriate

Ethical interpretation requires valid data.

6. Avoid Overextension of Results

IRIS identifies intensity patterns.

Higher or lower scores are not inherently better or worse.

Avoid:

• Ranking individuals based on raw scores

• Treating “high” as superior

• Using results competitively without context

Fit and effectiveness depend on role demands and environment.

7. Maintain Professional Competence

Users conducting debriefs or making decisions based on IRIS should:

• Complete appropriate IRIS training

• Understand the construct architecture

• Recognize the limits of interpretation

Certification and ongoing education strengthen responsible use.

8. Respect Participant Agency

Participants should:

• Understand the purpose of the assessment

• Have the opportunity to ask questions

• Be treated with dignity during interpretation

Coaching honors the participant’s journey — and challenges with care in the direction they choose to grow.

In Summary

Ethical use of IRIS requires:

• Valid data

• Contextual interpretation

• Professional judgment

• Respect for participant dignity

• Transparency in application

IRIS is a tool for growth and insight.
Its value depends on how responsibly it is used.