- Applied Behavior Analysis Ethics and Professional Conduct Questions and Answers Flashcards

A BCBA is asked to provide expert testimony in a legal case involving a client. What ethical obligation must the BCBA prioritize?

Answer: Provide only accurate, objective, and evidence-based information

When providing expert testimony, behavior analysts must remain objective and present scientifically supported information regardless of who retained them.

Which of the following is considered a multiple relationship that a BCBA must avoid?

Answer: Providing ABA services to a family member while also being their personal financial advisor

Serving as both an ABA provider and financial advisor to the same family creates a multiple relationship that risks harming client welfare and compromising professional judgment.

A behavior analyst is asked to train school staff using a procedure the analyst has not been trained on. What is the ethical response?

Answer: Decline to train on that procedure and recommend a more qualified trainer

Practicing outside one's scope of competence, including training others on unfamiliar procedures, violates the Ethics Code's competence requirements.

When a BCBA disagrees with a decision made by a treatment team that the BCBA believes will harm the client, what is the most appropriate course of action?

Answer: Clearly document the disagreement and advocate through appropriate channels

Behavior analysts must document disagreements with team decisions and advocate through appropriate channels rather than acting unilaterally or staying silent.

A BCBA uses social media to post a general case study about a challenging client situation without using the client's name. Is this ethically acceptable?

Answer: No, if there is any reasonable risk the client could be identified

Confidentiality extends to any information that could reasonably identify a client, not just to their name; behavior analysts must ensure clients cannot be identified.

Under the BACB Ethics Code, which situation would most clearly require a behavior analyst to break confidentiality?

Answer: A client makes a credible threat to harm another identifiable person

A credible threat of harm to an identifiable third party requires breaking confidentiality to fulfill the duty to warn and protect.

A BCBA is conducting a functional behavior assessment and notices signs of possible physical abuse on a client. What must the BCBA do?

Answer: Fulfill mandatory reporting obligations and report to the appropriate child protective authority

Behavior analysts are mandated reporters; suspected abuse must be reported to the appropriate child protective services regardless of other considerations.