Cite the applicable Ethics Code(s) by number and name (e.g., 2.14 rather than 2.
Cite the applicable Ethics Code(s) by number and name (e.g., 2.14 rather than 2.0). You must cite relevant codes/sections from the current Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts. PLEASE ONLY PICK FROM ETHICS CODES SECTION 5 and 6
Rationale for Chosen Code(s)
Code Violation?
Antecedent Factors Contributing to Scenario
Preventative Strategies
Ethical Course of Action
Future Risk Factors to Keep in Mind
Important: You must fully address each of the above. Please refer to the grading rubric before submitting. These responses must be complete and detailed in order to earn the points available (i.e., paragraphs in length will often be necessary, 1 sentence is most often NOT enough detail).
case 92- 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 var-
ious 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 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.
case 99- Matilda is a BCBA working at an ABA agency. While searching the Internet, she came across her company’s
profile on a popular review website. As she scrolled through the posts, she noticed a fairly scathing review writ-
ten by Cynthia, the parent of Cruz, one of the learners Matilda supervises. Along with Matilda, two of Cruz’s
direct care staff members were specifically mentioned by their first names in the review. On several occasions,
Matilda has met with Cynthia to discuss Cruz’s intervention plan, her recommendations, and Cruz’s progress.
During these meetings, she has never been given the impression that Cynthia was upset or had questions.
Matilda responded to the review by posting on the website that she has “done everything I could to help Cruz,
and if you did not make him miss so many sessions and followed through with more of my recommendations,
maybe he would be doing better.”
case 105- After utilizing a particular behavior reduction strategy for several learners, Sasha, a Board Certified Behavior
Analyst (BCBA), would like to share her results and findings with a wider audience. She receives permission
from several learners to start implementing the behavioral strategy and record the data for potential publication
or to present at local Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) conferences. Sasha is really excited to get started.
Though she has never formally conducted a research study before, she is confident in her capabilities of per-
forming the strategy and reviewing the data and results.
case 106- Jiang is a BCBA with a primary focus on researching the effects of various intervention strategies on the reduc-
tion of challenging behavior. She received a large grant from a pharmaceutical company to review the effects of
a well-regarded function-based intervention strategy in the reduction of challenging behavior for young adults
prescribed a particular medication, as compared with those that are not prescribed any medication. Along with
the details of her grant, Jiang received a message from the pharmaceutical company reminding her that, “This is
an expensive study with a lot riding on this medication. We trust you will do the right thing for the company.”
case 114- Samar is a BCBA who provides services to Deon, a 12-year-old male diagnosed with intellectual disability.
Samar has found that Deon’s family does not seem to implement any of his recommendations. For example,
Samar’s direct care staff have reported that Deon is often in diapers at the start of his sessions, despite the rec-
ommendation to only use underwear in support of Deon’s toilet training program. In addition, the staff reg-
ularly find Deon playing on his tablet when they arrive for sessions, despite the parents initially agreeing to the
tablet being a contingent reinforcer for correct responding during intervention sessions. Given these challenges,
Samar has informed the parents that his agency will no longer provide ABA services, and he has offered several
recommended referrals to other agencies.
case 117- Marco is accruing supervised experience hours toward his BCBA exam under the direction of Dr. Stargyen at a
local university. In addition to clinical and administrative services, Marco works as Dr. Stargyen’s research
assistant. Most of the participants within Dr. Stargyen’s studies attend a specialized treatment clinic within
the university. Dr. Stargyen is initiating a new study and has directed Marco to begin compiling baseline data
with the selected participants. At a treatment team meeting for one of the participants, attended by the parents,
Marco mentioned his data collection process for the study. The parents were very upset as they had no idea their
son was involved in research while attending the treatment clinic. Marco was asked to meet with Dr. Stargyen
later that day who stated that all the parents should know that their children will be involved in some type of
research because they attend a specialized clinic at the university. Marco was told that if he speaks with a parent
again about the research he can “find another supervisor” and that Dr. Stargyen would not be signing off on the
supervision hours Marco completed this month.