E-U3A

Ethics in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Student Full Name Institutional Affiliation Course Full Title Instructor Full Name Due date Ethics in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) History of the Ethics Code ABA began in the mid-20th century as a science that studies the functional relationship the environment and methods based on principles of behavior. As ABA started growing in the 1960s and 1970s, there arose the need for practitioners to develop an ethical code to guide their profession. This significant growth of ABA in treating individuals with developmental disorders, particularly autism, showed the necessity for ethical oversight. The Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) initiated the first formal steps toward an ethics code in ABA. Starting in the late 1970s and continuing throughout the early 1980s, the ABAI developed guidelines to ensure that behavior analysts adhered to ethical practices. In 1988, ABAI published the first official ethical guidelines. Later, the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) was instituted in 1998 and more formally set up the moral standards in ABA. The BACB instituted an examination and certification process for behavior analysts, accompanied by an overall code of ethics. Since then, the BACB code has been revised several times to match the field's developmental stage and the changing society, showing the commitment to the continued practice of ethical ABA. Core Ethical Principles The Core Ethical Principles are the basis of behavior analysts' ethical behavior, upon which their professional practice stands. 1. Benefit Others: This principle makes apparent that the welfare and dignity of the clients and, in general, other people they handle during the conduct of their work is their prime concern (BACB, 2022). It includes awareness of the potential for damaging effects on their work, conflicts of interest, and working in cooperation with others while safeguarding the interests of their clients. 2. Treat Others with Compassion, Dignity, and Respect: The behavior analyst must exercise compassion, dignity, and respect in all dealings with others, regardless of a client's age, ethnicity, or financial status (BACB, 2022). The principle ensures privacy is respected, client autonomy is promoted, and informed service decision-making is facilitated. 3. Behave with Integrity: The Code of Ethics for the behavior analyst is predicated on integrity (BACB, 2022). This principle mandates that behavior analysts behave truthfully, professionally, and responsibly in all professional relationships accomplished through avoiding misrepresentation or fraud, fulfilling obligations, and compliance with regulatory and professional requirements. 4. Ensure their Competence: Professional development and competence are essential for behavior analysts to deliver adequate and ethical service. This guideline emphasizes the necessity of working within one's area of competence, acquiring a current best-practice knowledge base in the field, and being knowledgeable about interventions that may harm a client. Ethics Code Structure The Code for Behavior Analysts comprises six comprehensive sections focusing solely on the profession's responsibilities and standards. Section 1. Responsibility as a Professional: This domain entails the fundamental principles behavior analysts should uphold. It also covers personal honesty and integrity, compliance with legislation, and acting in ways that positively conform to the profession of behavior analysis (BACB, 2022). Members also flexibly engage in lifelong learning and professional development activities and are sensitive to cultural responsiveness and diversity. Section 2. Responsibility in Practice: In this section, behavior analysts get guidance on how to behave as a routine practice. It includes promptly delivering effective treatment, safeguarding confidentiality, and ensuring appropriate documentation and reporting of services (BACB, 2022). Also, it enables analysts to act professionally in the consumer's best interest, collaborate with colleagues, and obtain informed consent. Section 3. Responsibility to Clients and Stakeholders: This domain centers on the interface between behavior analysts and the client/stakeholder (BACB, 2022). This standard emphasizes acting in the client's best interest, identifying the stakeholder, and establishing defined service/operational definitions and financial agreements. Section 4. Responsibility to Supervisees and Trainees: Behavior analysts supervise and train others within their competence (BACB, 2022). This section concerns adherence to supervision requirements, ensuring the supervisor's competence, handling the supervision volume, assuring accountability, documentation of supervision, conducting adequate supervision and training, addressing diversity in supervision, and delegating tasks accordingly. Section 5. Responsibility in Public Statements: Behavior analysts are guided to act responsibly. The section highlights protecting the rights and confidentiality of clients, stakeholders, supervisees, and trainees (BACB, 2022). It ensures truthfulness and accuracy in public statements, not allowing others to make deceptive statements regarding professional activities and using intellectual property responsibly. Section 6. Responsibility in Research: Behavior analysts are guided to conduct ethically sound research. It encompasses following laws and regulations, obtaining research review, making the welfare of the individual the highest priority during research undertaken in a service provision situation, and securing consent (BACB, 2022). Also, it helps provide confidentiality, e...