Ethical Decision-Making and the Seven-Step Model

Part I

For this unit, you have examined the 7-Step Model. This tool covers questions you must ask yourself when analyzing an ethical dilemma. This model examines the behavior analyst’s education and experience level, the threat of possible harm to clients, conflicts, and potential legal issues. The readings showed how the 7-Step Model can be used. When working to resolve ethical dilemmas, it is important to be prepared for any legal questions that may arise. Unit 3 covered many steps to take to make sure you, as a practitioner, are protected.

Scenario 1

Alba, a new Board-Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA), has been working for a local company providing home-based applied behavior analysis (ABA) services to children diagnosed with autism. Recently, she was assigned a case that required expertise in feeding disorders. The baby, 9 months old, has been labeled “failure to thrive” and has only gained 5 pounds since birth. She told her supervisor that she has no expertise in this severe condition and would like to be removed from the case. Her supervisor told her that no one on staff has experience with this type of behavior and that she would have to research the condition.

Scenario 2

Yukito has worked for Behavior Incorporated for 6 months. He recently had lunch with a colleague, and they discussed the stress of meeting the billable hour quota each week. His colleague told him that he finally got sick of the pressure and, about 3 weeks ago, began padding his hours. “Oh, I do a little literature review for each client and add 30 minutes to each client’s hours for billing. No more stress!” Yukito is shocked! He is faced with the question of how to handle his colleague’s breach of the Code.

Discussion

Choose one of the scenarios and determine possible approaches to resolving the ethical dilemma in the case. Discuss the relevant codes that apply to this scenario. Describe the 7-Step Model and explain the purpose of each step. Use the 7-Step Model to explain the next steps to follow.

Part II

Select a skill that is appropriate for use with chaining, e.g., making a meal, doing laundry, and making a bed. You can pick any skill, as long as it is appropriate for use with chaining.

Develop a task analysis for the skill you selected by performing the skill yourself. Your task analysis must include the stimulus-response components, not just the responses. Share your task analysis with your classmates.

Then, describe how you would use one of the chaining procedures to teach the skill to a client; include in your description prompting and transfer of stimulus control.

References:

Behavior Analyst Certification Board. (n.d.). Reporting to the ethics department.

Sellers, T. (2020, May 13). Episode 10: Addressing potential ethics violations with others [Audio podcast episode]. In Inside the BACB. Behavior Analyst Certification Board. 

Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2019). Applied Behavior Analysis (3rd ed.). Pearson Education (US).

Miltenberger, R. G. (2023). Behavior Modification: Principles and Procedures (7th ed.). Cengage Learning US.