Free BCBA Board Certified Behavior Analyst Ethics and Professional Conduct Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A BCBA provides in-home services to a child. The child's parents, who are very pleased with the services, offer the BCBA a standing invitation to have free meals at their family-owned restaurant. According to the BACB Ethics Code, what is the BCBA's most appropriate course of action?
- Accept the offer as a kind gesture, but limit it to once a month to maintain professionalism.
- Politely decline the offer, explaining the ethical guidelines regarding multiple relationships and conflicts of interest. (Correct answer)
- Accept the offer, as it is a gift of service rather than a monetary gift, and does not violate the code.
- Suggest that the parents instead provide a positive review online for the agency.
Correct answer: Politely decline the offer, explaining the ethical guidelines regarding multiple relationships and conflicts of interest.
The BACB Ethics Code strictly prohibits multiple relationships that could impair objectivity, create a conflict of interest, or lead to exploitation. Accepting gifts or services from clients, even if well-intentioned, creates a dual relationship beyond the professional one. The most ethical action is to politely decline and explain the professional boundaries that must be maintained to protect the integrity of the therapeutic relationship.
Question 2: Under the BACB's Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts, which of the following is an unacceptable practice regarding the use of client testimonials?
- Using a testimonial from a former client in an advertisement after obtaining their consent and specifying if it was solicited.
- Using an unsolicited positive review from a current client's parent, found on a public website, in a new promotional brochure. (Correct answer)
- Using an anonymous testimonial from a current client in a grant application for a non-profit organization.
- Sharing a former client's success story at a professional conference with all identifying information removed.
Correct answer: Using an unsolicited positive review from a current client's parent, found on a public website, in a new promotional brochure.
The BACB Ethics Code prohibits behavior analysts from soliciting or using testimonials from current clients for advertising purposes due to the potential for undue influence. Even if a testimonial is unsolicited and publicly available, repurposing it for the behavior analyst's own advertising materials is a violation. Testimonials from former clients may be used for advertising under specific conditions, and testimonials from current clients may be used for non-advertising purposes like grant applications.
Question 3: A BCBA is asked by a school principal to help develop a classroom-wide behavior management system. The BCBA conducts observations, analyzes the data, and designs an evidence-based intervention package that is effective in reducing problem behavior and increasing academic engagement for all students. This action primarily exemplifies which core ethical principle?
- Behaving with Integrity
- Ensuring Competence
- Treating Others with Compassion, Dignity, and Respect
- Benefit Others (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Benefit Others
The core principle of 'Benefit Others' requires behavior analysts to act in the best interest of their clients by protecting them and maximizing benefits. Designing and implementing an effective, evidence-based intervention that produces socially significant positive outcomes is a direct application of this principle. While the other principles are also important, the focus on producing meaningful, positive results for the students is the essence of beneficence.
Question 4: A behavior analyst is working with a 14-year-old client who has the ability to verbally express their wishes. The client's legal guardians have provided informed consent for a new intervention. When the BCBA introduces the procedure, the client says, "I don't like this, and I don't want to do it." What is the BCBA's ethical obligation?
- Proceed with the intervention, as legal consent from the guardians is sufficient.
- Acknowledge the client's dissent, pause the procedure, and attempt to gain assent by explaining the rationale in a way the client can understand or modifying the procedure. (Correct answer)
- Inform the client that participation is not optional and immediately implement the procedure as planned.
- Discontinue services immediately because the client is refusing to participate.
Correct answer: Acknowledge the client's dissent, pause the procedure, and attempt to gain assent by explaining the rationale in a way the client can understand or modifying the procedure.
While informed consent is obtained from legal guardians, behavior analysts have a responsibility to seek the client's assent, which is their agreement to participate. When a client with the capacity to express themselves dissents (refuses), the BCBA must respect this refusal. The ethical course of action is to pause, acknowledge the client's feelings, and work to gain their willing participation, which may involve further explanation or modification of the plan. Overriding the client's dissent without attempting to gain assent is contrary to the principle of treating clients with dignity and respect.
Question 5: A BCBA with extensive experience in early intensive behavioral intervention for autism is asked by a friend to provide services for the friend's elderly parent, who has dementia and engages in aggressive behavior. The BCBA has never worked with geriatric populations. What is the most ethical course of action?
- Accept the case, as the principles of behavior analysis are universal.
- Decline to provide services directly and refer the friend to a behavior analyst with documented experience and competence in gerontology. (Correct answer)
- Agree to take the case after completing a weekend workshop on behavior analysis in dementia care.
- Agree to take the case but under the direct supervision of a medical doctor.
Correct answer: Decline to provide services directly and refer the friend to a behavior analyst with documented experience and competence in gerontology.
The BACB Ethics Code requires behavior analysts to practice only within their boundaries of competence, which is determined by their education, training, and supervised experience. Working with a new population, such as geriatric clients with dementia, is outside the BCBA's current scope of competence. The most ethical response is to decline the case and provide a referral to a qualified professional.
Question 6: A BCBA is closing their private practice and transitioning all clients to other providers. According to the BACB Ethics Code, what is the BCBA's responsibility regarding the maintenance of client records?
- All original records must be transferred to the new provider, and the BCBA should not retain any copies.
- All records must be destroyed within 30 days of service termination to protect client confidentiality.
- The BCBA must maintain and dispose of records in a way that protects confidentiality and complies with laws, generally for a minimum of 7 years. (Correct answer)
- The client's family should be given the option to take possession of all records, relieving the BCBA of further responsibility.
Correct answer: The BCBA must maintain and dispose of records in a way that protects confidentiality and complies with laws, generally for a minimum of 7 years.
The BACB Ethics Code requires behavior analysts to retain and dispose of client records in a manner that protects confidentiality and is in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The code specifies that records must be maintained for at least 7 years, and sometimes longer if other laws require it.
Free BCBA Board Certified Behavior Analyst Ethics and Professional Conduct Questions and Answers
A BCBA provides in-home services to a child.
The child's parents, who are very pleased with the services, offer the BCBA a standing invitation to have free meals at their family-owned restaurant.
According to the BACB Ethics Code, what is the BCBA's most appropriate course of action?