Title: Ethics in Applied Behavior Analysis and Positive Behavior Supports
1Ethics in Applied Behavior Analysis and Positive
Behavior Supports
- Amy Cohen, Ph.D, BCBA
- Clinical Director
- HowardCenter
- Autism Spectrum Program
2Overview
- Review the ethical guidelines for the fields of
Applied Behavior Analysis and Positive Behavior
Supports - General discussion regarding the guidelines or
ethical situations which pose the greatest
challenges in our work
3Standards for Professional Guidelines
- ABA and PBIS- like most areas of professional
conduct- have developed standards of practice or
ethical guidelines which practitioners are
expected to adhere to - In addition, we are all expected to adhere to the
ethical guidelines of our agencies and of mental
health clinicians
4BACB Guidelines for Responsible Conduct for
Behavior Analysts
- 1.0 Responsible Conduct of a Behavior Analyst
- The behavior analyst maintains the high standards
of professional behavior of the professional
organization. - 2.0 The Behavior Analyst's Responsibility to
Clients - The behavior analyst has a responsibility to
operate in the best interest of clients. - 3.0 Assessing Behavior
- Behavior analysts who use behavioral assessment
techniques do so for purposes that are
appropriate in light of the research. - 4.0 The Behavior Analyst and the Individual
Behavior Change Program - The behavior analyst designs programs that are
based on behavior analytic principles, including
assessments of effects of other intervention
methods, involves the client or the
client-surrogate in the planning of such
programs, obtains the consent of the client, and
respects the right of the client to terminate
services at any time.
5BACB Guidelines for Responsible Conduct for
Behavior Analysts
- 5.0 The Behavior Analyst as Teacher and/or
Supervisor - Behavior analysts delegate to their employees,
supervisees, and research assistants only those
responsibilities that such persons can reasonably
be expected to perform competently. - 6.0 The Behavior Analyst and the Workplace
- The behavior analyst adheres to job commitments,
assesses employee interactions before
intervention, works within his/her scope of
training, develops interventions that benefit
employees, and resolves conflicts within these
Guidelines. - 7.0 The Behavior Analyst and Research
- Behavior analysts design, conduct, and report
research in accordance with recognized standards
of scientific competence and ethical research.
Behavior analysts conduct research with human and
non-human research participants according to the
proposal approved by the local human research
committee, and Institutional Review Board.
6BACB Guidelines for Responsible Conduct for
Behavior Analysts
- 8.0 The Behavior Analyst's Ethical Responsibility
to the Field of Behavior Analysis - The behavior analyst has a responsibility to
support the values of the field, to disseminate
knowledge to the public, to be familiar with
these guidelines, and to discourage
misrepresentation by non-certified individuals. - 9.0 The Behavior Analyst's Responsibility to
Colleagues - Behavior analysts have an obligation to bring
attention to and resolve ethical violations by
colleagues, to make sure their data are accurate
and presented truthfully, and they share data
with colleagues. - 10.0 The Behavior Analyst's Ethical
Responsibility to Society - The behavior analyst promotes the general welfare
of society through the application of the
principles of behavior.
7PBS STANDARDS OF PRACTICE
- I. Foundations of PBS
- II. Collaboration and Team Building
- III. Basic Principles of Behavior
- IV. Data-Based Decision Making
- V. Comprehensive Person Centered and Functional
Behavior Assessments - VI. Development and Implementation of
Comprehensive, Multielement Behavior Support Plans
8What Determines Ethical Procedures?
- Community standards
- Laws
- Prevailing philosophies
- Individual freedoms
- Clients attitude and feelings
- Social validity (consumer satisfaction)
9Ethical Procedures
- Goals and procedures must be acceptable to
students, parents and community
10Ethical Procedures
- Individuals who receive behavioral treatment
services have the right to - a therapeutic environment
- Services whose overriding goal is personal
welfare - Treatment by a competent behavior analyst
- Programs that teach functional skills
- Behavioral assessment and ongoing evaluation
- The most effective treatment procedures available
- -Executive Council for the Association of
Behavior Analysis
11Therapeutic Environments
- Therapeutic Environment should be
- Safe
- Humane
- Response to individual needs
- Enjoyable (offer choice)
- Least restrictive
12The Goal of Personal Welfare
- Appropriate goal setting is required
- Recipient of services (or parent) be informed of
the goals and agree to them - Informed consent
- Voluntary consent
13Treatment by a Competent Behavior Analyst
- All treatment should be overseen by a competent
behavior analyst/behavior specialist (in PBS) - Should have academic on-going hands-on
training, supervision and evaluation
14Programs that Teach Functional Skills
- Functional skills are determined by the needs of
a particular individual and the environment in
which they will live and what will be functional
for them - Each individual is capable of full participation
in community life and has a right to such
participation
15Behavioral Assessment and Ongoing Evaluation
- Functional assessments are conducted in order to
develop interventions behavior plans - Consent for the assessment must be obtained the
results must be explained - Ongoing evaluation is necessary to ensure skill
acquisition maintenance
16The Most Effective Treatment Procedures Available
- Must rely on scientifically professionally
derived knowledge to develop treatments - Treatments should be the most effective least
restrictive, least aversive treatment available - Consent is required for implementing behavior
change procedures
17Key Guidelines or Standards that present
challenges or are confronted in our work
- Behavior Analysts have a responsibility to
operate in the best interests of the client. - Who is the client?
- School
- Child
- family
- How do you make that decision?
18Key Guidelines or Standards that present
challenges or are confronted in our work
- A behavior analyst refrains from entering into
dual relationships if it appears that such a
relationship might reasonably impair objectivity,
performance, functioning
19Key Guidelines or Standards that present
challenges or are confronted in our work
- Behavior analysts terminate a professional
relationship when it becomes reasonably clear
that the client no longer needs the service, is
not benefiting, or is being harmed by continued
service. - How long?
- What is reasonably clear?
- Who decides the benefit of services?
20Key Guidelines or Standards that present
challenges or are confronted in our work
- If environmental conditions preclude
implementation of a behavior analytic program,
the behavior analyst recommends that other
professional assistance be sought. - What conditions might preclude implementation?
21Key Guidelines or Standards that present
challenges or are confronted in our work
- The behavior analyst recommends reinforcement
first rather than punishment whenever possible. - Often conflicts with schools preferences/values
22Key Guidelines or Standards that present
challenges or are confronted in our work
- When behavior analysts believe there may have
been an ethical violation by another behavior
analyst, they attempt to resolve the issue by
bringing to the attention of that individual if
an informal resolution appears appropriate and
the intervention does not violate confidentiality.
23Key Guidelines or Standards that present
challenges or are confronted in our work
- The behavior analyst always recommends the least
restrictive procedures (in the least restrictive
environment) likely to be effective in dealing
with the problem behavior.