Ethical or Unethical
A BCBA discusses a student's behavior plan with another parent in the school hallway. Ethical or unethical?
Unethical. Violates confidentiality.
A parent asks you to implement a strategy you have never been trained to use. What should you do first?
Recognize your competence limits and seek training or consultation before implementing it.
Which section of the BACB Ethics Code addresses responsibility in professional practice?
Section 1.0: Responsibility as a Professional.
What is the first thing a behavior analyst should do when encountering a potential ethical dilemma?
Identify and clearly define the ethical concern.
What does the term ethical fitness refer to in professional practice?
The ongoing development and maintenance of skills and habits needed to recognize and respond ethically to situations.
A BCBA realizes they made an error collecting data and immediately corrects the record while documenting the change. Ethical or unethical?
Ethical. Demonstrates honesty and accurate documentation.
A teacher asks you to share confidential information about a student who is not in their class. What should you do?
Protect confidentiality and share information only when appropriately authorized and necessary.
A BCBA conducts research involving students without obtaining required research approval. Which section applies?
Section 6.0: Responsibility in Research, particularly 6.01, Conforming with Laws and Regulations in Research.
Why should a behavior analyst consult the BACB Ethics Code when facing a dilemma?
To identify relevant ethical obligations and standards that guide professional decisions.
Name one personal factor that can interfere with ethical decision-making.
Stress, fatigue, emotional reactions, personal bias, or pressure from others.
A parent sends a BCBA a friend request on Facebook. The BCBA politely declines to maintain professional boundaries. Ethical or unethical?
Ethical. Maintains appropriate professional boundaries.
You observe a colleague using a procedure that appears inconsistent with a student's behavior plan. What should you do?
Assess immediate safety, verify the facts, and address the concern through appropriate supervisory or reporting channels.
Which section addresses responsibility to supervisees and trainees?
Section 4.0: Responsibility to Supervisees and Trainees.
A BCBA is unsure how to handle a conflict between a teacher and a parent. What additional resource can help guide the decision?
Consultation with a qualified supervisor, mentor, or knowledgeable colleague, while protecting confidentiality.
A BCBA regularly discusses ethical dilemmas with a mentor before problems escalate. What ethical fitness skill are they demonstrating?
Proactive consultation and reflective practice.
A BCBA allows a trainee to conduct an assessment independently despite knowing the trainee has not demonstrated competency. Ethical or unethical?
Unethical. The supervisor must provide appropriate training and oversight.
A supervisor pressures you to report that a student met a goal even though the data show otherwise. What should you do?
Refuse to falsify data, document the concern, and seek appropriate consultation or reporting channels.
Which section addresses responsibility to clients and stakeholders?
Section 2.0: Responsibility in Practice.
A BCBA identifies two possible solutions to an ethical dilemma. What should they evaluate before selecting one?
Potential risks, benefits, consequences, client rights, and applicable ethical requirements.
A BCBA becomes defensive whenever colleagues question their clinical decisions. What should they include in their ethical fitness plan?
Strategies for accepting feedback, regulating emotional responses, and evaluating alternative perspectives.
A BCBA discovers that a commonly used intervention is ineffective for a particular student but continues using it because the school has always used that procedure. Ethical or unethical?
Unethical. Services should be based on assessment, data, and evidence rather than tradition alone.
A parent requests that you stop a behavior intervention, but your supervisor insists that you continue it. What should you do?
Clarify consent and decision-making authority, protect the client's welfare, and seek appropriate consultation. Do not disregard a valid withdrawal of consent.
A BCBA posts a testimonial from a current client's parent on the agency website to attract new clients. Which section addresses this concern?
Section 5.0: Responsibility in Public Statements. Specifically, 5.07 addresses testimonials from current clients for advertising.
A BCBA makes an ethical decision, implements the solution, and documents the outcome. What important step should follow?
Evaluate the results and reflect on whether the decision effectively resolved the concern, making adjustments if needed.
A BCBA wants to improve their ethical fitness over the next three months. Identify three components of a meaningful ethical fitness plan.
A specific improvement goal, regular opportunities to practice and receive feedback, and a measurable method for evaluating progress.