BCBA - Board Certified Behavior Analyst Ethics for Behavior Analysts Questions and Answers

Question 1

A BCBA is providing services to a family in a small, rural community. The client's father is the only mechanic in town. The BCBA's car breaks down and requires immediate repair. Which of the following actions is the most appropriate for the BCBA to take to manage this potential multiple relationship?

Accepted Answer

Use the mechanic's services but insist on paying the full, standard rate and document the interaction.

Answer

The BACB Ethics Code advises avoiding multiple relationships but recognizes they can be unavoidable in some situations, such as small communities. The most ethical course of action is to proceed with the necessary service while maintaining clear professional boundaries. This involves paying the standard rate, documenting the circumstances, and ensuring the professional relationship with the client remains prioritized and objective.

Question 2

According to the Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts, under which of the following conditions is it ethical to discontinue services?

Accepted Answer

The stakeholders are not complying with the intervention plan despite efforts to address barriers.

Answer

The BACB's 'Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts' (Code 3.15) explicitly states that services can be discontinued if 'relevant stakeholders are not complying with the behavior-change intervention despite appropriate efforts to address barriers.' The other options do not represent ethically permissible reasons for discontinuation. Slow progress may require a modification of the plan, not termination. Personal feelings or better job offers are not client-centered reasons for ending services.

Question 3

A BCBA is supervising a trainee who is accruing fieldwork hours. The BCBA notices the trainee consistently struggles with data analysis and graphing. To comply with their ethical obligations as a supervisor, the BCBA must:

Accepted Answer

provide ongoing, constructive feedback and design systems to improve the trainee's performance.

Answer

According to the BACB Ethics Code (Section 4), supervisors are responsible for the professional development of their trainees. This includes designing effective supervision, providing timely and constructive feedback to improve performance, and ensuring supervisees develop the necessary skills for competent practice. Delegating the task without addressing the skill deficit, recommending a new supervisor without attempting to train, or ignoring the issue are all abdications of this responsibility.

Question 4

Which of the following is one of the four core principles outlined in the BACB's 'Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts'?

Accepted Answer

Behaving with Integrity

Answer

The introductory section of the 'Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts' is built upon four core principles: (1) Benefit Others, (2) Treat Others with Compassion, Dignity, and Respect, (3) Behave with Integrity, and (4) Ensure Competence. While the other options are important ethical considerations covered within the standards, they are not one of the four foundational core principles.

Question 5

A BCBA is asked by a local news station to comment on a new fad therapy for autism that lacks empirical support. In their public statement, the BCBA has an ethical responsibility to:

Accepted Answer

provide statements based on current scientific knowledge and behavior-analytic principles, while avoiding unsubstantiated claims.

Answer

Section 5 of the Ethics Code, 'Responsibility in Public Statements,' requires that behavior analysts' statements are based on their conceptually consistent, behavior-analytic knowledge and that they do not make false, deceptive, or exaggerated claims. They must differentiate between what is based on scientific evidence and what is personal opinion. Promoting one's own practice or making sweeping generalizations without evidence would be unethical.

BCBA - Board Certified Behavior Analyst Practice Test

BCBA - Board Certified Behavior Analyst Practice Test

BCBA - Board Certified Behavior Analyst Ethics for Behavior Analysts Questions and Answers