ABA Ethics & Professional Conduct 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to the BACB Ethics Code, how should a BCBA handle a situation where organizational demands conflict with ethical practice?
- Always follow organizational policy to maintain employment
- Attempt to resolve the conflict and, if unresolved, prioritize ethical obligations (Correct answer)
- Immediately resign from the position
- Report the organization to the BACB without attempting internal resolution first
Correct answer: Attempt to resolve the conflict and, if unresolved, prioritize ethical obligations
BCBAs should attempt to resolve conflicts with employers through appropriate channels and, if the conflict persists, must adhere to ethical standards above organizational demands.
Question 2: A BCBA is providing telehealth services to a client in another state. What ethical issue must the BCBA address FIRST?
- Ensuring the client has a reliable internet connection
- Verifying licensure and practice requirements in the client's state (Correct answer)
- Obtaining a secondary BCBA to co-supervise the case
- Confirming the client's insurance covers telehealth
Correct answer: Verifying licensure and practice requirements in the client's state
BCBAs must comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including verifying that they are legally authorized to practice in the jurisdiction where the client is located.
Question 3: Which of the following is an example of practicing within the boundaries of competence?
- A BCBA trained in early autism intervention accepts a case involving adult forensic populations
- A BCBA trained in verbal behavior declines a case requiring expertise in feeding disorders and refers to a specialist (Correct answer)
- A BCBA reads a single article on a new topic and immediately offers those services
- A BCBA applies familiar procedures to an unfamiliar population without additional training
Correct answer: A BCBA trained in verbal behavior declines a case requiring expertise in feeding disorders and refers to a specialist
Practicing within competence boundaries means only providing services in areas where one has adequate training, education, or supervised experience.
Question 4: A BCBA's supervisee self-reports making a data recording error that may have influenced treatment decisions. The BCBA's MOST ethical response is to:
- Reassure the supervisee and ignore the error to maintain morale
- Independently review the data, address the error, and use it as a training opportunity (Correct answer)
- Immediately terminate the supervisee's practicum hours
- Report the error to BACB without first investigating internally
Correct answer: Independently review the data, address the error, and use it as a training opportunity
Supervisors must review errors, correct them in treatment data, and use the situation for constructive training rather than punishing honest self-disclosure.
Question 5: According to the BACB Ethics Code, gifts from clients or families should generally be:
- Accepted freely to build therapeutic rapport
- Accepted only if valued under $25
- Avoided to prevent conflicts of interest or undue influence (Correct answer)
- Accepted on holidays but returned at all other times
Correct answer: Avoided to prevent conflicts of interest or undue influence
BCBAs should avoid accepting gifts as they can create conflicts of interest, create obligations, or compromise the professional relationship.
Question 6: A BCBA is asked to provide expert witness testimony in a legal case involving ABA services. To act ethically, the BCBA should:
- Advocate strongly for the side that hired them regardless of the evidence
- Base testimony solely on behavioral science and objective data (Correct answer)
- Decline all expert witness roles as they constitute a dual relationship
- Only testify if the case involves one of their own clients
Correct answer: Base testimony solely on behavioral science and objective data
When serving as an expert witness, a BCBA must base testimony on scientific evidence and professional standards, not on advocacy for a particular party.
Question 7: When ending services with a client, a BCBA's ethical obligation includes:
- Stopping services immediately upon reaching treatment goals
- Providing transition support and referring the client to appropriate services when needed (Correct answer)
- Retaining the client regardless of progress to ensure continuity
- Delegating all transition planning to caregivers without professional guidance
Correct answer: Providing transition support and referring the client to appropriate services when needed
Ethical discontinuation of services requires transition planning, appropriate referrals, and ensuring the client's continued welfare after services end.
ABA Ethics & Professional Conduct 3
According to the BACB Ethics Code, how should a BCBA handle a situation where organizational demands conflict with ethical practice?