Ethics Litmus Tests Web

Digital download Ethics Litmus Tests
Ethics Litmus Tests
GE NT
GE NT
I This work is licenced under an Attribution NonCommercial 4.0
I
PA R
PA R
International Licence.
P
P
IS T
IS T
Please don’t charge others for the use of this pack.
TH NO
TH NO
DO
DO
Please print on recycled paper if possible.
Enjoy!
ethical-litmus.site This work is licensed under a

A project from debias.ai Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International licence.
Instructions
Folded pamphlet
1. Print following two pages as

one double-sided page
(A4 or Letter)
GE NT
GE NT
2. Fold down the middle
I 3. It should look like this:
I
PA R
PA R
P
P
IS T
IS T
TH NO
TH NO
DO
ethical-litmus.site
A project from debias.ai
DO This work is licensed under a
Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International licence.
Card activities Introduction to the pack
Define the motivator Filling in the blanks
HANDY TIPS Some cards have empty slots for
Start by describing the problem,
you to fill out. You can leave this
scenario, or motivating concern.
As well as random card until you pick one as part of an
The blind advocate Usually these are sourced from activity, or work through the pack
draws, you always have
Group activity current or recent work. Sometimes and do them all in one go, it’s up
the option to pick out a
they are recurring niggles. They to you.
Builds empathy and strengthens question to best match
communication. Needs an even your scenario. can be very loose, for example:
The important thing is to choose
number, 6 minimum. people who you feel close to and
Drew a card that doesn’t
• Together define your ethical “I’m not sure we have thought whose wellbeing you care about.
suit? Try again, NBD!
motivator. through the consequences” This is a way to personalise the
If you find a specific card pack and make it your own! If
• Draw a litmus card at random
especially useful, feel free -or- you are doing an activity with a
(or preselect a relevant card).
to use it often! friend or group, each person can
• Individually write responses on copy the prompt down and fill an
post-its or scrap paper. Aim “I feel uncomfortable
Digital vs Analogue? appropriate person for themselves.
for an opinion followed by 2-3 Doesn’t really matter
with this outcome”
sentences of explanation. - although many of us Empty cards
• Redistribute responses will need to run group 14 Blank cards per pack
randomly amongst the group. activities remotely due to Otherwise, the ‘driver’ or ‘motivator’
COVID-19. Keep in mind
These DIY cards are to encourage
• One by one read aloud the can be quite specific. A clearly
that you may be capturing
you to write your own prompts. You
responses. Advocates - try to defined and scoped scenario is may have some ready to go, but
responses about sensitive
argue well for the position and helpful for eliciting consistent it’s fine if not. Feel free to set the
topics. Check your platform
extend the argument, even if responses when playing in a group. blanks aside and draw from the 66
for security and ease of
it’s not your natural side. For example: pre-filled cards until you get the
deletion after the activity.
• Once complete, unveil the hang of things.
authors of each position. “What if our automated Ask yourself what motivates
Did people change or revise decision algo is ageist?” you to be better, helps you gain
their view or after advocating for perspective, or provides meaning
another viewpoint? -or- when you’re unsure. The prompts
should be relevant to your
Bonus: Try to map the responses. DYO - Define your own interests and personality. Look for
“What if we had a data
See whether they form natural Got another idea for how to use inspiration in media & books! As a
groups or a spectrum. breach and didn’t realise?”
the card deck? Go for it! Star Trek fan, one of mine is
“What would Picard do?”
ethical-litmus.site Page 4 A project from debias.ai ethical-litmus.site Page 1 A project from debias.ai
Card activities Card activities
RELEVANT DISCARD
The classic litmus The problem definition The rank and file The brainstorm
Activity for 1 Activity for 1 Activity for 1 Group activity
Got a wiggy feeling, not sure Not sure how to talk about the This activity adds some structure 5-8 people. Map out your team’s
what to do? Start here. thing that’s worrying you? to the issue at hand. ethics for a given scenario.
1. Write down your motivator. Capture responses on post-its.
1. Write down your motivator. 1. Lay out the entire pack so
you can sort through the 2. Sort the whole card deck into 1. Together define your ethical
2. Draw a litmus card at random.
questions. two piles: Relevant / Discard. motivator.
3. Take a moment to hold the
2. Select three questions that Relevant cards will feel pertinent 2. Draw a litmus card at random
prompt in your mind. Try to
best describe the concern or to your ethical motivator. Rely on (or preselect a relevant card).
examine it from different
perspectives. feeling. your gut and work briskly. 3. Ask team members to respond
3. Using these questions as a 3. Set aside the Discard pile. to the card with 2-3 responses,
4. Write down your response(s).
framework, try to describe one idea per post-it. (5 mins)
4. Spread out the Relevant pile to
What did you learn? Did you your ethical motivator. 4. Capture the post-its on a wall
scan all the cards.
identify next steps? If unclear, or whiteboard.
try picking another card, or put it Show the questions and your 5. Rank them in a column from
motivating scenario description most to least important. 5. Cluster them to see common
aside and try again later.
to a colleague, as a starting point themes. Look for the biggest
If you have an intimidatingly large
for discussion. and smallest clusters.
pile, feel free to scale it back to
10 or 15, and add the rest to the 6. Explore the outliers. Invite
discard pile. team members to explain.
7. Write a position statement
Got your final ranking? What
summarising the team
2. Draw a litmus card at random. does it tell you? Do any themes
sentiment.
3. Write down your responses to emerge?
Two heads the litmus card individually. Review the top three questions
Is there consensus? Is more
Activity for 2 discussion needed?
4. Share your responses with and think about how you might
A twist on the classic litmus. Pair each other. mitigate the risk of harm. Do you Similar to running a retro for
with a colleague. need to gather more information, those familiar with Agile. You
Compare and contrast your
1. Together define and write or do some research? Do any next want a safe place for team to
responses. Are you surprised?
down your ethical motivator. steps present themselves? share honest opinions without
Explain your thinking.
fear, repercussions or judgement.
ethical-litmus.site Page 2 A project from debias.ai ethical-litmus.site Page 3 A project from debias.ai
Litmus Cards
1. Print following four pages

single-sided (A4 or Letter)
2. Cut-out the cards into

individual pieces
GE NT
GE NT
3. Your pack of 80 cards
I should look like this:
I
PA R
PA R
P
P
IS T
IS T
TH NO
TH NO
DO
ethical-litmus.site
A project from debias.ai
DO This work is licensed under a
Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International licence.
What if it happened Jump forwards 50 years. It’s my last day at work.

to my ? What if this was put online?
Close older relative
Did this age well? Happy to sign-off on this?
Is this a turning point How would I feel if this was the How can I get inside someone Can I focus more on outcomes
or a footnote? last thing I did in this job? else’s point of view? and less on causes?
Do I have a strong opinion What’s the worst Would I spend .

Is this a zero-sum game? Cost of grocery shop
that could be controversial? that could happen? of my money for veto power?
Conjure your 8 year old self. Is this something I’d want Make a strong argument
Is this important or urgent?
Do they agree with you? to be known for in future? for the opposition
Why am I having a strong Would I feel uncomfortable if Do I have enough context

saw this? Does this represent me well?
emotional response to this? Someone I admire
to make a decision?

Without further discussion, What if Would I want .

Colleague I respect Close younger relative Can I be more vulnerable?
will this play on my mind? strongly opposed my position? to hear about this?
Would my idea of what’s fair Are we bike shedding or Is this the person Is this principles-based
clash with someone else’s? avoiding a bigger issue? thinks I am? or ad hoc?
My dog, cat, etc
What have we How can we refine Does this make me feel How can we assess the value of
forgotten or ignored? our intentions? more or less like myself? competing futures?
Is this easy to misinterpret Are the incentives How can I help |

What are my motives? Colleague/manager
or miscommunicate? helping or harming? understand my concerns?
Can I feel about it more and Does this feel like the future Turn off your cynical inner voice.
What’s the least bad option?
rationalise about it less? I want to work towards? Now what?

What’s the most Is this an accepted moral standard Would my . Can I use story-telling to move
Close older relative
charitable interpretation? or a spec in proposal? think this is fair? from ambiguity to clarity?
Can we do it?
What are the limits of What if this happened IRL Why am I feeling
vs.
my imagination? instead of on a computer? uncomfortable about this?
Should we do it?
Have we assessed the Can I feel someone’s pain What’s one small change that
What does my gut say?
cost of failure? and take action to help? would improve this scenario?
Am I relying on someone Imagine your best self. If I had a dream about this, Would this make a good episode
else’s ignorance? What would they do? would it be a nightmare? of Black Mirror?
Have I personally met the Do I want to tell .

What if it happened to me? Someone I love Are we keeping our promises?
people affected by this? all about this?

Do I benefit disproportionately Who has the most and least

from this? power in this scenario?
Would it be ok if this decision

set a precedent?
Am I reinforcing or challenging
the status quo?
What do we owe to each other?
Consider short-term vs.

long-term consequences


Ethics Litmus Tests Web

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

You might also like

Ethics Litmus Tests Web

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Ethics Litmus Tests Web

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Digital download Ethics Litmus Tests

Ethics Litmus Tests

ethical-litmus.site This work is licensed under a

1. Print following two pages as

I 3. It should look like this:

1. Print following four pages

2. Cut-out the cards into

What if it happened Jump forwards 50 years. It’s my last day at work.

Do I have a strong opinion What’s the worst Would I spend .

Why am I having a strong Would I feel uncomfortable if Do I have enough context

ethical-litmus.site This work is licensed under a

Without further discussion, What if Would I want .

Is this easy to misinterpret Are the incentives How can I help |

ethical-litmus.site This work is licensed under a

Have I personally met the Do I want to tell .

ethical-litmus.site This work is licensed under a

Do I beneﬁt disproportionately Who has the most and least

Would it be ok if this decision

What do we owe to each other?

Consider short-term vs.

ethical-litmus.site This work is licensed under a

You might also like