BCBA Exam Ethics

BCBA Exam: Ethics Ethics - BEHAVIORS, PRACTICES, and DECISIONS that address 3 fundamental questions that guide how you conduct yourself to help others improve their physical, social, psychological, familial, or personal condition Question: Why is Ethics Important? - To further the welfare of the client 3 Fundamental Questions of Ethical Practice - 1. What is the right thing to do? 2. What is worth doing? 3. What does it mean to be a good behavior analyst? 1. What is the right thing to do? - -Considerations related to cultural practices: what may be acceptable in one culture is not in another -Differences across time: what may have been acceptable 20 years ago is not today Things to Help You Guide the Decision-Making Process - 1. Professional Training and Experience -Your training should influence the methods you use. The decision to opt for Method A (e.g., differential reinforcement) or Method B (e.g., overcorrection) should be based on your clinical training, not your personal history -Your training as a behavior analyst should ALWAYS OVERRIDE your personal history. 2. Personal History -A personal history is your individual cultural, religious, or social background. It should not influence your clinical decisions. -Recognize that your personal history may lead to inappropriate solutions (e.g., if a person was raised in a family that believed in "spare the rod, spoil the child", that person may tend to be harsh with children) -If you recognize that your personal history is impacting your clinical decision-making, get help from supervisors, colleagues, and research. If you cannot get the help or change your behavior, excuse yourself from the case. 3. The Context of Practice -Refers to where you practice and the specific nature of job (e.g., at home, at school, etc.) -Determines what is legal vs. illegal, ethical vs. unethical Question: What is Legal, but Unethical? - 1. Breaking a professional confidence. 2. Accepting valued heirlooms in lieu of payment.