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6.0—Behavior Analysts’ Ethical Responsibility to the Profession of Behavior Analysis
Chapter
10
6.0—Behavior Analysts’ Ethical Responsibility to the Profession of Behavior Analysis
Behavior analysts have the dual responsibility of representing themselves in their work as well as others who call themselves behavior analysts (Bailey & Burch, 2016). As such, behavior analysts are expected to support the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA) above any other approach. Support may be demonstrated through the exclusive application of behavior-analytic strategies and interventions, the participation in professional organizations, and the dissemination of ABA to the public. While it may not be the responsibility of all those working within ABA to confront or correct misinterpretations or misunderstandings held by those outside the field, by maintaining an ethically appropriate and conceptually systematic approach, behavior analysts may be better adept at responding to inaccurate viewpoints (Schlinger, 2015).
A Workbook of Ethical Case Scenarios in Applied Behavior Analysis. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-815893-7.00010-1 © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
145
CASE 54: FOLLOWING THE CROWD
Fernanda is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and has supervised the behavioral intervention of a number of students in a special education classroom for children classified as emotionally disturbed (ED) at a local public elementary school for several years. Fernanda has established a professional relationship with the school’s teachers and administrators. The school district recently contracted Fernanda to provide services to a new student. At the preliminary Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting attended by the student’s parents, school personnel, Fernanda, and other professionals, one of the other professionals began talking about the “dangers of ABA.” He mentioned that ABA-based intervention is “simply compliance training, focused on building robots.” He showed the members of the group several articles and editorials supporting his viewpoint. Before long, the rest of the group began admonishing ABA-based intervention strategies. Fernanda did not have any research on hand to support the benefits of ABA-based interventions. She was concerned about maintaining her relationship with the school and began supporting the position that ABA “can be problematic” and stated that she has “had her own issues” with ABA.
List all applicable ethics codes
Provide the rationale for the chosen code(s) and if you believe a violation has occurred
146
10. 6.0—Behavior Analysts’ Ethical Responsibility to the Profession of Behavior Analysis
Identify factors that may have led to the current scenario and strategies that could have prevented the scenario from occurring
Given the scenario, describe the ethical course of action moving forward (include potential risk factors and areas that may require continued monitoring)
How might Fernanda’s interaction with the rest of the IEP team change if she were to engage in an impassioned debate during the meeting?
Case 54: Following the Crowd
147
CASE 55: GETTING THE WORD OUT
Luca, a BCBA, is passionate about behavior analysis and about sharing the capabilities of the field with the public. He has established a large social media following using the handle “A-B-A-mazing.” Through his various social media pages, Luca regularly posts short video content: (a) discussing particular aspects of behavior analytic strategies, (b) portraying interviews with members of the field, and (c) making creative memes and gifs with ABA-based topics and humor. Luca also allows others to post to his pages and will periodically share the graphics created by these other individuals. One meme shared by Luca, created by one of his followers, depicts a picture of an adult spraying a child with a water bottle with a caption that says, “RBT’s be Like: Behavior Reduced. I’m Out.” Luca received several comments from his followers expressing their concern about the content of the graphic.
List all applicable ethics codes
Provide the rationale for the chosen code(s) and if you believe a violation has occurred
148
10. 6.0—Behavior Analysts’ Ethical Responsibility to the Profession of Behavior Analysis
Identify factors that may have led to the current scenario and strategies that could have prevented the scenario from occurring
Given the scenario, describe the ethical course of action moving forward (include potential risk factors and areas that may require continued monitoring)
Does Luca still hold any responsibility for the meme since he did not actually create the graphic?
Case 55: Getting the Word Out
149
10
6.0—Behavior Analysts’ Ethical Responsibility to the Profession of Behavior Analysis
Behavior analysts have the dual responsibility of representing themselves in their work as well as others who call themselves behavior analysts (Bailey & Burch, 2016). As such, behavior analysts are expected to support the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA) above any other approach. Support may be demonstrated through the exclusive application of behavior-analytic strategies and interventions, the participation in professional organizations, and the dissemination of ABA to the public. While it may not be the responsibility of all those working within ABA to confront or correct misinterpretations or misunderstandings held by those outside the field, by maintaining an ethically appropriate and conceptually systematic approach, behavior analysts may be better adept at responding to inaccurate viewpoints (Schlinger, 2015).
A Workbook of Ethical Case Scenarios in Applied Behavior Analysis. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-815893-7.00010-1 © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
145
CASE 54: FOLLOWING THE CROWD
Fernanda is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and has supervised the behavioral intervention of a number of students in a special education classroom for children classified as emotionally disturbed (ED) at a local public elementary school for several years. Fernanda has established a professional relationship with the school’s teachers and administrators. The school district recently contracted Fernanda to provide services to a new student. At the preliminary Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting attended by the student’s parents, school personnel, Fernanda, and other professionals, one of the other professionals began talking about the “dangers of ABA.” He mentioned that ABA-based intervention is “simply compliance training, focused on building robots.” He showed the members of the group several articles and editorials supporting his viewpoint. Before long, the rest of the group began admonishing ABA-based intervention strategies. Fernanda did not have any research on hand to support the benefits of ABA-based interventions. She was concerned about maintaining her relationship with the school and began supporting the position that ABA “can be problematic” and stated that she has “had her own issues” with ABA.
List all applicable ethics codes
Provide the rationale for the chosen code(s) and if you believe a violation has occurred
146
10. 6.0—Behavior Analysts’ Ethical Responsibility to the Profession of Behavior Analysis
Identify factors that may have led to the current scenario and strategies that could have prevented the scenario from occurring
Given the scenario, describe the ethical course of action moving forward (include potential risk factors and areas that may require continued monitoring)
How might Fernanda’s interaction with the rest of the IEP team change if she were to engage in an impassioned debate during the meeting?
Case 54: Following the Crowd
147
CASE 55: GETTING THE WORD OUT
Luca, a BCBA, is passionate about behavior analysis and about sharing the capabilities of the field with the public. He has established a large social media following using the handle “A-B-A-mazing.” Through his various social media pages, Luca regularly posts short video content: (a) discussing particular aspects of behavior analytic strategies, (b) portraying interviews with members of the field, and (c) making creative memes and gifs with ABA-based topics and humor. Luca also allows others to post to his pages and will periodically share the graphics created by these other individuals. One meme shared by Luca, created by one of his followers, depicts a picture of an adult spraying a child with a water bottle with a caption that says, “RBT’s be Like: Behavior Reduced. I’m Out.” Luca received several comments from his followers expressing their concern about the content of the graphic.
List all applicable ethics codes
Provide the rationale for the chosen code(s) and if you believe a violation has occurred
148
10. 6.0—Behavior Analysts’ Ethical Responsibility to the Profession of Behavior Analysis
Identify factors that may have led to the current scenario and strategies that could have prevented the scenario from occurring
Given the scenario, describe the ethical course of action moving forward (include potential risk factors and areas that may require continued monitoring)
Does Luca still hold any responsibility for the meme since he did not actually create the graphic?
Case 55: Getting the Word Out
149