Ethics & Professional Practice
As a BCBA you will likely encounter ethical challenges. Outline the steps you would follow, including resources you would draw upon, to help you navigate an ethical conflict
Q6: Consult the Ethical Compliance Code, consult with other, trusted behavior analysts, discuss with other person the ethical conflict to try to resolve it; if it cannot be resolved, report to BACB
Give an example of when a time sampling measure was used and why would it be appropriate to use in that example.
Q9 Any time sampling method (WIR, PIR, MTS) can be described; reasoning behind use should indicate that WIR underestimates, PIR overestimates, and MTS comes in the middle, or another strong reason for the selection of their method in the example.
Distinguish between internal and external validity. Provide a non- example of each.
Q46: Reliability is the extent to which a measure yields the same results after repeated measurements are made, whereas validity is the extent to which the measure actually measured what it was intended to measure (it was directly related to the behavior of interest).
Explain the philosophical assumption of parsimony as it relates to behavior analysis
Q7: Ruling out simple, logical explanations before considering more complex explanations. In relating to BA: We rule out the simplest explanations of behavior before moving to more complex explanations for behavior.
A school system has asked you to conduct a functional behavior assessment. Describe at least 1 indirect and 1 direct assessment tool that you would use
Q11:
Indirect assessments: interviews, rating scales, surveys, checklists. Could use the MAS, FAST, QABF, FAOI, etc. Direct assessments: ABC data collection, scatter plot analysis (any direct observation of the behavior).
What are the limits of confidentiality? (i.e. under what circumstances could you break confidentiality)
Q20: Danger to self/others, mandated by law, complying with court order, an immediate crisis develops, billing/payment of services
You work with a client who has difficulty with conversations. You notice that there is often a lengthy delay from when a question is asked to when the client responds. What measure of behavior might be appropriate and how would you collect that data?
Q18: Latency; start a timer when the SD is presented and stop it when the behavior has begun to be emitted.
What is the rationale for conducting a component analysis? Provide an example
Q56: Rationale: To identify the necessary and sufficient components of a treatment package to affect change. Various examples should identify the treatment package and the analysis of its components.
Describe the respondent conditioning paradigm
Q8: US-->UR; US+NS-->UR (multiple pairings), NS-->CS, elicits CR
What is the rationale for conducting a descriptive assessment? How is this different from a functional analysis?
Q12:
To gather data to hypothesize a function, under naturally- occurring conditions. An FA confirms the function through experimental manipulation of variables.
You are a behavior analyst working as a private practitioner. You have recently accepted a new job on the other side of the country. Describe the steps you will follow with the families that you currently consult with.
Q20: Inform families of leaving as soon as possible, and inform of who will be taking over the cases. Refer to behavior analyst who is competent with population, and plan for transition to that person.
Describe how you would calculate IOA for interval data. What should you do if your IOA score is lower than you consider acceptable?
Q26:
Interval-by-interval IOA; divide total number of intervals agreed by total intervals and multiply by 100. (can also use scored-interval or unscored interval IOA). If IOA is low, should reassess operational definition and measure and/or retrain observers.
What is the rationale for conducting a parametric analysis? Provide an example
Q76: Rationale: to identify the necessary and sufficient parameters of an independent variable to affect change in the behavior/dependent variable. Various examples; should identify what parameter of the IV is under investigation.
Explain the philosophical assumption of philosophic doubt as it relates to behavior analysis
Q16:
The attitude that the truthfulness and validity of all scientific theory and knowledge should be continually questioned; applies to BA in that we are always look at the evidence presented to determine the validity of our findings, to see if we are wrong in our beliefs, and continue research to establish new knowledge.
What was the role of the play condition in the Iwata et al. (1982/94) functional analysis study? How did it function in that role?
Q48:
It served as the control condition, allowing all functions to be met (tangible--items available; attention--provided on NCR schedule; no demands placed).
You have accepted a new client who has a severe seizure disorder. You would like to talk to other members of her care team, as well as seek consultation from another BCBA who has worked with clients with seizure disorders. What steps would you follow?
Q38: Get consent from the guardians to consult with care team and another BCBA. Once obtained, reach out to all parties to set up a consultative meeting.
Distinguish between partial interval and whole interval recording. Which one tends to systematically underestimate behavior?
Q36: In PIR, an interval is marked as an occurrence if the behavior occurs at any point in the interval, whereas with WIR, the behavior has to occur for the entire duration of the interval to be marked as an occurrence. WIR underestimates.
Provide a practical and an ethical concern to take into account when considering a multiple baseline design
Q88:
Practical--you need to have at least 2, and ideally at least 3 different behaviors, subjects, or settings for which the IV will be applied. The IV needs to be systematically and subsequently applied in each tier, which may take more resources. The functional relation demonstrated in MBSL designs may not be as strong as other designs.
Ethical: You are delaying a possibly effective treatment in subsequent tiers of the design in order to show experimental control.
How does a stimulus gain discriminative control over a behavior?
Q17: By reinforcement/punishment being available for the response produced in the presence of that stimulus, and not in the absence of that stimulus (this is stimulus control; need to describe the SD and S-delta situations).
Distinguish a reinforcer assessment from a preference assessment. Give an example of how a you would conduct a reinforcer assessment.
Q58:
Preference assessment establishes a hierarchy of preference among various stimuli. A reinforcer assessment tests the reinforcing effectiveness of those stimuli through experimental analysis.
Example should be specific to a reinforcer assessment--they should be presenting a stimulus following a behavior to determine if it increases that behavior in the future.
How would you respond to client's parent if they tried to "friend" you on social media? Why?
Q47: "I'm sorry, but according to my ethical guidelines, I am unable to "friend" you." Why: It potentially opens up the.possibility that the clinician's judgement will eventually be compromised due to accessing more personal information about the client's parent, as well as the parent having access to personal information about clinician. Creates a dual relationship.
Distinguish between the reliability and validity of data
Q46: Reliability is the extent to which a measure yields the same results after repeated measurements are made, whereas validity is the extent to which the measure actually measured what it was intended to measure (it was directly related to the behavior of interest).
Define and provide an example of: Analytic
Q53: The experimenter has demonstrated a functional relation between environmental variables and the behavior of interest. Various examples.
Define and provide examples of independent and dependent variables
Q19:
IV: the variable that is systematically manipulated in the experiment (the intervention/treatment). DV: The measured behavior in the experiment to determine if it changes as a result of change to the IV. Various examples.
What are the four conditions evaluated in the seminal Iwata et al. (1982/94) functional analysis study? Which condition is assessed for social negative reinforcement?
Q78:
Demand--assessed social negative reinforcement;
Attention--assessed social positive reinforcement;
Alone-- assessed automatic reinforcement;
Play--control condition
(Tangible was not part of the original study, later added to assess additional social positive reinforcement.