BCBA Exam: Ethics
Ethics d- dBEHAVIORS, dPRACTICES, dand dDECISIONS dthat daddress d3 dfundamental
dquestions dthat dguide dhow dyou dconduct dyourself dto dhelp dothers dimprove dtheir
dphysical, dsocial, dpsychological, dfamilial, dor dpersonal dcondition
Question: dWhy dis dEthics dImportant? d- dTo dfurther dthe dwelfare dof dthe dclient
3 dFundamental dQuestions dof dEthical dPractice d- d1. dWhat dis dthe dright dthing dto ddo?
2. What dis dworth ddoing?
3. What ddoes dit dmean dto dbe da dgood dbehavior danalyst?
1. What dis dthe dright dthing dto ddo? d- d-Considerations drelated dto dcultural dpractices:
dwhat dmay dbe dacceptable din done dculture dis dnot din danother
-Differences dacross dtime: dwhat dmay dhave dbeen dacceptable d20 dyears dago dis dnot
dtoday
Things dto dHelp dYou dGuide dthe dDecision-Making dProcess d- d1. dProfessional dTraining
dand dExperience
-Your dtraining dshould dinfluence dthe dmethods dyou duse. dThe ddecision dto dopt dfor
dMethod dA d(e.g., ddifferential dreinforcement) dor dMethod dB d(e.g., dovercorrection)
dshould dbe dbased don dyour dclinical dtraining, dnot dyour dpersonal dhistory
-Your dtraining das da dbehavior danalyst dshould dALWAYS dOVERRIDE dyour dpersonal
dhistory.
2. Personal dHistory
-A dpersonal dhistory dis dyour dindividual dcultural, dreligious, dor dsocial dbackground. dIt
dshould dnot dinfluence dyour dclinical ddecisions.
-Recognize dthat dyour dpersonal dhistory dmay dlead dto dinappropriate dsolutions d(e.g., dif
da dperson dwas draised din da dfamily dthat dbelieved din d"spare dthe drod, dspoil dthe dchild",
dthat dperson dmay dtend dto dbe dharsh dwith dchildren)
-If dyou drecognize dthat dyour dpersonal dhistory dis dimpacting dyour dclinical ddecision-
making, dget dhelp dfrom dsupervisors, dcolleagues, dand dresearch. dIf dyou dcannot dget
dthe dhelp dor dchange dyour dbehavior, dexcuse dyourself dfrom dthe dcase.
3. The dContext dof dPractice
-Refers dto dwhere dyou dpractice dand dthe dspecific dnature dof djob d(e.g., dat dhome, dat
dschool, detc.)
-Determines dwhat dis dlegal dvs. dillegal, dethical dvs. dunethical
Question: dWhat dis dLegal, dbut dUnethical? d- d1. dBreaking da dprofessional dconfidence.
2. Accepting dvalued dheirlooms din dlieu dof dpayment.
,BCBA Exam: Ethics
3. Engaging din dconsensual dsex dwith da dclient dover dthe dage dof d18.
Question: dWhat dis dBoth dIllegal dand dUnethical? d- d1. dMisrepresenting dpromised
dservices dor dskills.
2. Stealing da dclient's dbelongings.
3. Abusing da dclient dphysically, demotionally, dfinancially, dsocially, dor dsexually.
4. Engaging din dconsensual dsexual drelations dwith dpersons dunder dage d18.
Question: dWhat dare dEthical dCodes dof dBehavior? d- d-Guidelines dthat dspecify dwhat dIS
da dviolation.
-Guidelines dfor ddeciding da dcourse dof daction dor dconducting dprofessional dduties.
-Guidelines dto dhelp dto ddiscriminate dbetween dlegal dand dethical ddistinctions dmaking
dus dmore dlikely dto:
d-provide deffective dservices
d-maintain dsensitivity dtowards dclients
d-not dbreak dthe dlaw dor dour dprofessional
dstandards dof dconduct
2. What dis dWorth dDoing? d- d-Addresses dthe dgoals dand dobjectives dof dpractice dand
dforces dus dto dask dthe dquestions:
d1. dWhat dare dwe dtrying dto daccomplish?
d2. dHow dare dwe dtrying dto daccomplish dit?
d3. dIs dthe dobjective dsocially dvalid?
d4. dWhat dis dthe drisk-benefit dratio?
Social dValidity d- d-When dthe dresults dshow dmeaningful, dsignificant, dand dsustainable
dchange.
-When dthe dgoals, dprocedures, dand dresults dof dan dintervention dare dsocially
dacceptable dto dthe dclient, dthe dbehavior danalyst, dand dsociety.
-Not devery dskill dhas dsocial dvalidity d(ex. dteaching dan dadult dwith ddevelopmental
ddisabilities dto dplay dwith dchildren's dcoloring dbooks dis dnot dsocially dvalid.
2 dWays dto dAssess dSocial dValidity d- d1. dSocial dComparison:
d-Comparison dof dthe dperformance dof dclients
dexposed dto dthe dintervention dwith dan
dequivalent dor d"typically ddeveloping" dgroup.
d-Limitation: dnormative ddata dmay dnot dbe dreally
drelevant dfor dthe dclient's dfunctioning.
, BCBA Exam: Ethics
2. Subjective dEvaluation dof dExperts:
d-Evaluation dof dthe dclient's dperformance dby
dexperts dwho dare dvery dfamiliar dwith dthe dclient.
d-Limitation: dsubjective devaluation dof dexperts
dmay dnot dtell dus dabout dthe dsuccess dof dan
dintervention.
3. What dDoes dit dMean dto dBe da dGood dBehavior dAnalyst? d- d- dFollowing
dprofessional dcodes dof dconduct d(BACB)
-Keeping dclient's dwelfare din dyour dideas
A dGood dPractitioner dis dSelf-Regulating d- dSeeks dways dto dcalibrate ddecisions dover
dtime dto densure dthat dvalues, dcontingencies, dand drights dand dresponsibilities dare
dintegrated dand dan dinformed dcombination dof dthese dis dconsidered.
3 dReasons dWhy dWe dAbide dBy dEthics d(MHS) d- d1. dM: dMeaningful dChange
d-To dproduce dmeaningful dbehavior dchange dof
dsocial dsignificance dto dthe dclient
d- dIncrease dthe dlikelihood dof dappropriate
dservices dbeing drendered dto dindividuals
2. H: dHarm
d-To dreduce/eliminate dharm d(e.g., dpoor
dtreatments, dSIB, detc.)
3. S: dStandards
d-To dconform dto dthe dethical dstandards dof
dlearned dsocieties dand dprofessional
dorganizations
Question: dWhat dAre dProfessional dStandards? d- d(Standards dis dan dumbrella dword dfor
deverything.)
-Standards dare dwritten dguidelines dthat dprovide da ddirection dfor dconducting dthe
dpractices dassociated dwith dan dorganization.
BACB d- d-Certifies dindividual dpractitioners
-In d1999, dthe dBACB dstarted dcredentialing dbehaviorists din dthe dUS dand dother
dcountries. d The dBACB dcertification dis dbased don dFlorida's dcertification dprogram. dIt
densures dconsumers dthat dan dindividual's dspecialization dis dABA.
Association dfor dBehavior dAnalysis d(ABA) d- dAccredits duniversity dprograms
Ethics d- dBEHAVIORS, dPRACTICES, dand dDECISIONS dthat daddress d3 dfundamental
dquestions dthat dguide dhow dyou dconduct dyourself dto dhelp dothers dimprove dtheir
dphysical, dsocial, dpsychological, dfamilial, dor dpersonal dcondition
Question: dWhy dis dEthics dImportant? d- dTo dfurther dthe dwelfare dof dthe dclient
3 dFundamental dQuestions dof dEthical dPractice d- d1. dWhat dis dthe dright dthing dto ddo?
2. What dis dworth ddoing?
3. What ddoes dit dmean dto dbe da dgood dbehavior danalyst?
1. What dis dthe dright dthing dto ddo? d- d-Considerations drelated dto dcultural dpractices:
dwhat dmay dbe dacceptable din done dculture dis dnot din danother
-Differences dacross dtime: dwhat dmay dhave dbeen dacceptable d20 dyears dago dis dnot
dtoday
Things dto dHelp dYou dGuide dthe dDecision-Making dProcess d- d1. dProfessional dTraining
dand dExperience
-Your dtraining dshould dinfluence dthe dmethods dyou duse. dThe ddecision dto dopt dfor
dMethod dA d(e.g., ddifferential dreinforcement) dor dMethod dB d(e.g., dovercorrection)
dshould dbe dbased don dyour dclinical dtraining, dnot dyour dpersonal dhistory
-Your dtraining das da dbehavior danalyst dshould dALWAYS dOVERRIDE dyour dpersonal
dhistory.
2. Personal dHistory
-A dpersonal dhistory dis dyour dindividual dcultural, dreligious, dor dsocial dbackground. dIt
dshould dnot dinfluence dyour dclinical ddecisions.
-Recognize dthat dyour dpersonal dhistory dmay dlead dto dinappropriate dsolutions d(e.g., dif
da dperson dwas draised din da dfamily dthat dbelieved din d"spare dthe drod, dspoil dthe dchild",
dthat dperson dmay dtend dto dbe dharsh dwith dchildren)
-If dyou drecognize dthat dyour dpersonal dhistory dis dimpacting dyour dclinical ddecision-
making, dget dhelp dfrom dsupervisors, dcolleagues, dand dresearch. dIf dyou dcannot dget
dthe dhelp dor dchange dyour dbehavior, dexcuse dyourself dfrom dthe dcase.
3. The dContext dof dPractice
-Refers dto dwhere dyou dpractice dand dthe dspecific dnature dof djob d(e.g., dat dhome, dat
dschool, detc.)
-Determines dwhat dis dlegal dvs. dillegal, dethical dvs. dunethical
Question: dWhat dis dLegal, dbut dUnethical? d- d1. dBreaking da dprofessional dconfidence.
2. Accepting dvalued dheirlooms din dlieu dof dpayment.
,BCBA Exam: Ethics
3. Engaging din dconsensual dsex dwith da dclient dover dthe dage dof d18.
Question: dWhat dis dBoth dIllegal dand dUnethical? d- d1. dMisrepresenting dpromised
dservices dor dskills.
2. Stealing da dclient's dbelongings.
3. Abusing da dclient dphysically, demotionally, dfinancially, dsocially, dor dsexually.
4. Engaging din dconsensual dsexual drelations dwith dpersons dunder dage d18.
Question: dWhat dare dEthical dCodes dof dBehavior? d- d-Guidelines dthat dspecify dwhat dIS
da dviolation.
-Guidelines dfor ddeciding da dcourse dof daction dor dconducting dprofessional dduties.
-Guidelines dto dhelp dto ddiscriminate dbetween dlegal dand dethical ddistinctions dmaking
dus dmore dlikely dto:
d-provide deffective dservices
d-maintain dsensitivity dtowards dclients
d-not dbreak dthe dlaw dor dour dprofessional
dstandards dof dconduct
2. What dis dWorth dDoing? d- d-Addresses dthe dgoals dand dobjectives dof dpractice dand
dforces dus dto dask dthe dquestions:
d1. dWhat dare dwe dtrying dto daccomplish?
d2. dHow dare dwe dtrying dto daccomplish dit?
d3. dIs dthe dobjective dsocially dvalid?
d4. dWhat dis dthe drisk-benefit dratio?
Social dValidity d- d-When dthe dresults dshow dmeaningful, dsignificant, dand dsustainable
dchange.
-When dthe dgoals, dprocedures, dand dresults dof dan dintervention dare dsocially
dacceptable dto dthe dclient, dthe dbehavior danalyst, dand dsociety.
-Not devery dskill dhas dsocial dvalidity d(ex. dteaching dan dadult dwith ddevelopmental
ddisabilities dto dplay dwith dchildren's dcoloring dbooks dis dnot dsocially dvalid.
2 dWays dto dAssess dSocial dValidity d- d1. dSocial dComparison:
d-Comparison dof dthe dperformance dof dclients
dexposed dto dthe dintervention dwith dan
dequivalent dor d"typically ddeveloping" dgroup.
d-Limitation: dnormative ddata dmay dnot dbe dreally
drelevant dfor dthe dclient's dfunctioning.
, BCBA Exam: Ethics
2. Subjective dEvaluation dof dExperts:
d-Evaluation dof dthe dclient's dperformance dby
dexperts dwho dare dvery dfamiliar dwith dthe dclient.
d-Limitation: dsubjective devaluation dof dexperts
dmay dnot dtell dus dabout dthe dsuccess dof dan
dintervention.
3. What dDoes dit dMean dto dBe da dGood dBehavior dAnalyst? d- d- dFollowing
dprofessional dcodes dof dconduct d(BACB)
-Keeping dclient's dwelfare din dyour dideas
A dGood dPractitioner dis dSelf-Regulating d- dSeeks dways dto dcalibrate ddecisions dover
dtime dto densure dthat dvalues, dcontingencies, dand drights dand dresponsibilities dare
dintegrated dand dan dinformed dcombination dof dthese dis dconsidered.
3 dReasons dWhy dWe dAbide dBy dEthics d(MHS) d- d1. dM: dMeaningful dChange
d-To dproduce dmeaningful dbehavior dchange dof
dsocial dsignificance dto dthe dclient
d- dIncrease dthe dlikelihood dof dappropriate
dservices dbeing drendered dto dindividuals
2. H: dHarm
d-To dreduce/eliminate dharm d(e.g., dpoor
dtreatments, dSIB, detc.)
3. S: dStandards
d-To dconform dto dthe dethical dstandards dof
dlearned dsocieties dand dprofessional
dorganizations
Question: dWhat dAre dProfessional dStandards? d- d(Standards dis dan dumbrella dword dfor
deverything.)
-Standards dare dwritten dguidelines dthat dprovide da ddirection dfor dconducting dthe
dpractices dassociated dwith dan dorganization.
BACB d- d-Certifies dindividual dpractitioners
-In d1999, dthe dBACB dstarted dcredentialing dbehaviorists din dthe dUS dand dother
dcountries. d The dBACB dcertification dis dbased don dFlorida's dcertification dprogram. dIt
densures dconsumers dthat dan dindividual's dspecialization dis dABA.
Association dfor dBehavior dAnalysis d(ABA) d- dAccredits duniversity dprograms
