Behaviors, Practices, and Decisions That Address Three Fundamental Questions

Chapter 29

Ethics

• Behaviors, practices, and decisions that address three fundamental questions:

– ?

• End goal: Further the

What is the right thing to do?

• influences our decision making

– Personal experiences

–

– Professional training and experiences

– To ensure that personal experiences and cultural/religious beliefs don’t take over:

– Consult , , ,

What is worth doing?

• Social validity

– Are the for the planned behavior change intervention?

– Are the and aligned with ?

– Do the results show change?

• Cost-Benefit Ratio

– Does the to the individual justify the for providing the service?

• Decisions should be made by

• Person with should be given greatest consideration

• Existing Exigencies

– Behaviors that are more serious warrant intervention consideration before behaviors that are less problematic

– Must still consider long-term ramifications for treatments that result in quick change

The good behavior analyst…

• Follows the

• Is

• Calibrates decisions over time to meeting changing cultural values and contingencies

Professional Standards

• Written that provide direction for the practices associated with an organization

• See…

– APA: Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct

– ABA: The Right to Effective Behavioral Treatment and The Right to Effective Education

– BACB: Guidelines for Responsible Conduct for Behavior Analysts and The BCBA and BCABA Behavior Analyst Task List

Ensuring Professional Competence

• that includes:

– Formal coursework

– Supervised practica

– Mentored professional experience

•

– Behavior Analyst Certification Board

• Keep practice within your

Maintaining and Expanding Professional Competence

• credits (CEUs)

• Attending and presenting at conferences

•

Making and Substantiating Professional Claims

• Avoid making unsubstantiated claims (e.g., “I am certain I can help your son”)

– Maintain a

• Only present yourself with valid credentials (never claim to have certifications, licenses that you don’t have)

Informed Consent

• The potential recipient of services or a participant in a research study gives his or her before any assessment or treatment is provided

• Permission must follow and information has been provided

Three Tests for Informed Consent

• Person must demonstrate

• Person’s decision must be

• Person must have of all

Capacity to Decide

• The person must have

– Adequate by which he/she acquires knowledge

– Ability to

– Ability to engage in a

• These are often

Surrogate/Guardian Consent

• When a person is deemed incapacitated, consent may be obtained through a surrogate or guardian

– Surrogate: a legal process by which another individual is authorized to

– Guardian: of the individual

Voluntary

• Consent is given in the

• Consent can be

Knowledge of Treatment

• Treatment must be presented in clear, nontechnical language

– All important

– All potential

Treatment Without Consent

•

• Cannot be done when parents simply refuse; have recourse through legal system

Confidentiality

• Information regarding an individual receiving services may not be discussed with or made available to third parties (unless explicit permission has been given)

• Limits

–

Protecting Dignity, Health, and Safety

• Do I honor ?

– Do I help the client ?

• Do I provide ?

• Do I look ?

Advocating for the Client

• Is the problem ?

– Ensure the problem is not

– Ensure the problem is the and that there is, indeed, a problem

– Ensure have been attempted and that the problem can’t be solved

• Is the proposed intervention likely to be successful?

– Client, caregivers

– for treatment

– Behavior analyst

– can be controlled

Embracing the Scientific Method

• “In science keeping an open mind is a virtue, but not so open that your brains fall out” (James Oberg)

• When selecting interventions, behavior analysts should rely on

– published in

– of behavior

Conflict of Interest

• Occurs when a , alone or in connection with family, friends or associates,

• Direct and frequent observation puts behavior analysts in close contact with the client and family members in natural settings

• Must be cautious not to