Intellectual Honesty, Attribution & Transparency Policy

StorieTree Professional Education is committed to intellectual honesty, transparency, and ethical integrity in all continuing education activities. This policy establishes expectations for accurate attribution of sources, responsible use of evidence, transparency about methods and tools (including artificial intelligence), and the ethical representation of scholarly and professional work.

1. Core Principles

All CE content offered by StorieTree must be:

• Accurate, evidence-informed, and professionally responsible

• Transparent regarding sources, methods, and limitations

• Respectful of the intellectual contributions of others

• Free from misrepresentation, plagiarism, or misleading attribution

Intellectual honesty is foundational to ethical practice, informed professional decision-making, and participant trust.

2. Accurate Attribution and Citation of Sources

Presenters must:

• Accurately cite all scholarly, theoretical, clinical, and professional sources used in the development of CE content;

• Clearly distinguish between original contributions, summaries of existing work, and direct quotations;

• Use citations that are appropriate to psychology and professional education (e.g., peer-reviewed journals, professional guidelines, consensus statements); and

• Avoid presenting others’ ideas, frameworks, language, or models as their own.

Misrepresentation of authorship, omission of key sources, or selective citation that distorts the scholarly record is not permitted.

3. Faithful Representation of Others’ Work

When discussing the work of other scholars, clinicians, or communities, presenters must:

• Represent theories, findings, and viewpoints accurately and in context;

• Avoid oversimplification or distortion that could mislead participants;

• Acknowledge scholarly disagreement or debate where it exists; and

• Respect the origins of knowledge, including contributions from marginalized or historically excluded communities.
  
  

4. Accuracy, Evidence, and Limits of Knowledge

In alignment with StorieTree’s Accuracy, Utility & Limitations Policy, presenters must:

• Clearly identify the empirical, theoretical, or professional basis for claims;

• Distinguish evidence-based practices from emerging practices or professional opinion;

• Acknowledge gaps, limitations, and uncertainties in the current body of knowledge; and

• Avoid overstating effectiveness, generalizability, or certainty.

5. Disclosure of AI Use in Workshop Development

StorieTree recognizes that AI-assisted tools may be used ethically and responsibly as supportive tools, not as substitutes for scholarly judgment, professional expertise, or original intellectual work.

Permitted Uses of AI

AI tools may be used for:

• Brainstorming or outlining content

• Editing for clarity or organization

• Formatting materials

• Supporting accessibility (e.g., drafting alt-text, simplifying language)

Prohibited Uses of AI

AI tools may not be used to:

• Generate original scholarly claims without independent verification

• Fabricate references, data, or citations

• Replace critical analysis or professional judgment

• Compose the entirety of a CE program or presentation

6. Required AI Disclosure

All presenters must disclose any use of AI tools in preparing CE materials. Disclosures must include:

• The AI tool(s) used

• The purpose and scope of use

• Confirmation that all AI-assisted content was reviewed, verified, and edited by the presenter

If no AI tools were used, presenters must explicitly state:
“No AI-assisted tools were used in the development of this program.”

7. Accountability and Presenter Responsibility

Presenters retain full responsibility for:

• The accuracy and integrity of all content

• Proper attribution and citation of sources

• Ethical representation of evidence and ideas

• Verification of AI-assisted outputs

AI assistance does not shift authorship or accountability away from the presenter.

8. Review, Oversight, and Enforcement

The Program Director and Program Administrator review content, citations, disclosures, and AI statements as part of the CE approval process. Violations of this policy may result in:

• Required revisions or corrective action

• Additional training

• Removal from the program schedule

• Exclusion from future StorieTree programming

9. Alignment With Professional and Ethical Standards

This policy aligns with:

• APA CESA Standards for CE content integrity

• StorieTree’s Diversity& Ethics Infusion Model

• Conflict of Interest Disclosure Procedures

• Accuracy, Utility & Limitations Policies

• APA’s Interim Policy on Generative AI (2024)

StorieTree Professional Education views intellectual honesty—including honest attribution, transparent scholarship, and responsible technology use—as essential to ethical continuing education and professional trust.