What Makes ABA UNIQUE? Flashcards
What makes ABA Unique?
- Treatment primarily carried out by paraprofessionals under supervision.
- intervention done in the setting the behavior actually occurs.
- Employer is often a third party, whose own agenda and ethics impacts the profession.
- Treatment not only derived from single subject research, but also the efficacy of individual treatment is determined using single subject research design. (Evidence based research , as well as individual treatment. )
Evidence based Treatment
- Single Subject research (within subject designs)
- Individual serves as his own control to determine efficacy of treatment.
- Allows for informed treatment decisions, potentially resulting in highly customized treatments.
The Importance of evidence based Practice
Amy Cuddy’s Power poses :
Other treatments with little to no scientific support:
Gluten free diets Chelation Facilitated communication Sensory Integrative Therapy (SI) Rapid Prompting Method (RPM)
Treatment Primarily Carried Out By Paraprofessionals
-Individuals primarily responsible for behavior change are either parents, relatives,Paid care workers, teacher, etc
-Ethical consideration:
Being careful to respect the rights of the client. Can be easy to respond solely to the referring party.
- Be careful not to stigmatize the client.
-Be careful not to infringe on clients right in favor of referring party’s input.
Intervention Done in Settings The Behavior Occurs:
- Ethical considerations include:
- Does the setting warrant prior teaching to reduce risk and improve rate of learning?
- What other individuals or groups does your setting come into contact with? Law enforcement? General public?
- What other safety concerns need to be put into place in order to protect behavior change agents and clients.
Employer as a third party
Behavior analysts commonly work for organizations who are not familiar with our ethics code, and have different motivations.
Marketing
- Use of testimonials
- Over promising gains or effectiveness
Profit
- Increased billable hours
- Preference for funding streams
Networking
-Dual roles, Use of testimonials
- preference for certain clients according to "who knows who" in the community.Frequent ethical PROBLEMS according Bailey and Burch
Right to effective treatment (2.10B)
- limited Funding
- Improper data collection
- Non- evidence based treatment
- Competing lines of authority
Responsibility to recommend scientifically supported and most effective treatment:
- Choice
- Completing ProfessionMore Frequent Ethical Problems:
Behavior analysts assessments are insufficient to provide appropriate substantiation for their findings:
- Time Limitations - Making recommendations without proper assessment
More Frequent Ethical Problems …
Dual relationships and conflicts of interest:
- A dual relationship is one where the therapist interacts with clients or party outside of the capacity of a therapist. - Problems of quid pro quo due to accepting gifts. (You scratch my back I scratch yours.) - Conflicts of interest arise from well meaning professional relationships as well (board members influences, parents providing services to ABA company).
More Frequent Ethical Problems …..
Functional Assessment
- Practitioners said they lacked resources to complete an FBA or an FA. - Often skipped completing these in favor of using their professional judgement.
More Frequent Ethical Problems: Bailey & Burch
Other Concerns:
-Least restrictive procedures
- Responsible for appraisal of alternative treatment
- Responsibility to all parties affected by behavioral services
- reinforcement/punishment (reinforcement when possible)
Environmental conditions that hamper implementation.
ANALYZING COMPLEX ETHICS CASES Developed by Bailey and Burch
- Is it covered by the ethics Code?
- Who are the “players” stakeholders involved
- Contingency Plans for the Dilemma:Plan A,B,C
- The Skills and Clout each plan requires
- The Risk
- The Implementation
- The Evaluation
Common Ethical Challenges:
-Favors- Can lead to QUID PRO QUO in professional relationship.
-Gossip- Casual convos or info. About other people
-White Lies: harmless untruths, short excuses to avoid conflicts.
Appreciation: Creates dual relationship/ quid pro quo.
Advice:
Responsibility
Summary
Common Ethical Challenges
-Favors:
A cornerstone for friendship building, but can lead to quid pro quo in professional relationships, and can shape inappropriate or ineffective professional habits.
