Ethical Considerations in Applied Behavior Analysis

Catalog description

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the ethical issues of Applied Behavior Analysis. Ethical issues covered include: professional certification standards, guidelines for responsible conduct for behavior analysts. Specifically, students will learn to practice within ethical guidelines established by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BCAB) and American Psychological Association (APA) by analyzing cases that address: a) responsibility to clients (e.g., confidentiality and informed consent), b) self-monitoring of own professional behavior (e.g., practicing within boundaries of competence, professional development, and avoiding conflicts of interest), c) conducting assessments and developing behavior change programs that are based on behavior analytic principles (e.g., use of least restrictive procedures, ongoing data collection, and termination of services), d) teaching and supervision (e.g., providing objectives and feedback, and utilizing principles of behavior analysis in supervision), (e) promoting the general welfare of society through the application of the principles of behavior (e.g., presenting a behavioral alternative to other procedures or methods). The student will also learn to incorporate The Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy and security rules in their practice as behavior analysts.