ABAT Ethics and Professional Conduct 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A BCBA working in a school setting is asked by a teacher to share a student's confidential behavioral data with another staff member who is not part of the treatment team. What should the BCBA do?
- Share freely since all school employees share the same duty of care
- Decline unless proper consent or a legitimate need-to-know is established (Correct answer)
- Share with an administrator's verbal approval
- Provide a summary but withhold specific data points
Correct answer: Decline unless proper consent or a legitimate need-to-know is established
Confidentiality requires that client information only be shared with those who have informed consent or a documented, legitimate need-to-know basis for receiving it.
Question 2: Which of the following is an example of practicing outside one's scope of competence?
- Implementing a token economy for a client diagnosed with autism
- Conducting a functional behavior assessment for anxiety without adequate training in that area (Correct answer)
- Supervising an RBT who works with a new population
- Using extinction as part of a comprehensive behavior plan
Correct answer: Conducting a functional behavior assessment for anxiety without adequate training in that area
Scope of competence requires that behavior analysts only provide services for which they have adequate education, training, and supervised experience.
Question 3: A parent requests that a BCBA provide ABA services to their child but also asks the BCBA to serve as a personal life coach for the parent. What ethical issue does this present?
- No issue; life coaching and ABA can be combined seamlessly
- A multiple relationship that could impair objectivity and professional judgment (Correct answer)
- A billing concern that requires separate invoices
- An issue only if the parent pays out of pocket
Correct answer: A multiple relationship that could impair objectivity and professional judgment
Multiple relationships, where a behavior analyst serves in more than one professional or personal role with a client or client family member, can impair objectivity and must be avoided.
Question 4: How should a BCBA respond when a client's legal guardian refuses a recommended intervention that is evidence-based and in the client's best interest?
- Implement the intervention anyway because clinical judgment overrides family preference
- Respect the guardian's decision, document it, and explore alternatives within an ethical framework (Correct answer)
- Report the guardian to child protective services immediately
- Withdraw services immediately without discussion
Correct answer: Respect the guardian's decision, document it, and explore alternatives within an ethical framework
Respect for client autonomy and guardian rights requires honoring refusals while ensuring the guardian is fully informed and documenting the decision appropriately.
Question 5: Which statement best reflects the BACB's position on using social media in professional practice?
- Behavior analysts may post case details if client names are changed
- Behavior analysts must maintain professional standards and protect client confidentiality in all online activity (Correct answer)
- Social media activity is entirely separate from professional ethics obligations
- Only public posts require ethical consideration; private messages are exempt
Correct answer: Behavior analysts must maintain professional standards and protect client confidentiality in all online activity
The BACB Ethics Code extends professional conduct obligations to all communications including social media, requiring confidentiality and professional behavior online.
Question 6: A BCBA learns that an RBT they supervise has been falsifying session notes. What is the BCBA's ethical obligation?
- Give the RBT a verbal warning and continue supervision as normal
- Address the issue directly, report it per organizational and BACB procedures, and take corrective action (Correct answer)
- Terminate the RBT from the position without documentation
- Overlook it if the treatment data still appear consistent
Correct answer: Address the issue directly, report it per organizational and BACB procedures, and take corrective action
Supervisors are ethically obligated to address supervisee misconduct, document it appropriately, and report it through the proper channels including the BACB when warranted.
Question 7: Under the BACB Ethics Code, what must a behavior analyst do when they become aware that their own personal problems are interfering with professional competence?
- Continue working and monitor for improvement over time
- Seek consultation, supervision, or limit their professional activities until the issues are resolved (Correct answer)
- Disclose the issues to all active clients
- File a self-report with the BACB immediately
Correct answer: Seek consultation, supervision, or limit their professional activities until the issues are resolved
Behavior analysts must recognize when personal difficulties impair their professional effectiveness and take corrective action, such as seeking consultation or temporarily reducing caseload.
ABAT Ethics and Professional Conduct 3
A BCBA working in a school setting is asked by a teacher to share a student's confidential behavioral data with another staff member who is not part of the treatment team.
What should the BCBA do?