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A Workbook of Ethical Case Scenarios in Applied Behavior Analysis

  • 2nd Edition - December 2, 2021
  • Latest edition
  • Authors: Darren Sush, Adel C. Najdowski
  • Language: English

Those working within the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA) encounter potential ethical dilemmas on a daily basis. While some challenges can be anticipated and appropriately… Read more

Description

Those working within the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA) encounter potential ethical dilemmas on a daily basis. While some challenges can be anticipated and appropriately addressed before they become unmanageable, oftentimes behavior analysts are confronted with unforeseen and novel situations that require immediate, yet careful attention. It is impossible to anticipate and plan for every eventuality. A Workbook of Ethical Case Scenarios in Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition, presents more than 120 real-world case scenarios commonly faced by individuals practicing ABA. The examples range in difficulty and severity to address the unique challenges and needs of those teaching, practicing, or learning ABA through ethics-focused coursework or preparing for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (BACB®) certification exam. In addition to case scenarios, the workbook provides detailed questions to facilitate discussion and critical thinking, offers suggestions related to the navigation of ethically precarious situations, and includes recommendations of ethics codes to consider in relation to each presented scenario.

Key features

  • Offers case scenarios addressing codes within the BACB®’s Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts
  • Presents detailed question prompts to facilitate discussion and critical thinking
  • Includes recommendations of ethics codes to consider and review in relation to each presented scenario
  • Offers suggestions on the navigation of ethical challenges
  • Discusses how to assess risk and devise ethically appropriate courses of action
  • Provides the entirety of the BACB® ethics code for quick access and reference

Readership

Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), entry-level paraprofessionals who work directly with children with ASD. Centers for autism will be interested in purchasing multiple copies of this manual for those they are training

Table of contents

Section I: Background and Preparation for Analysis of Ethical Case Scenarios 

1. A Brief Introduction to Ethics in Applied Behavior Analysis 

2. Using this Workbook 

3. Suggestions for Ethical Decision Making 

4. Examples of Completed Case Scenarios 

Section II: Ethical Case Scenarios 

5. Section 1: Responsibility as a Professional

Case 1: Signed, Sealed

Case 2: Licensed to Ill

Case 3: Dropped Deadline

Case 4: Divided Attention

Case 5: Parents’ Night Out

Case 6: Risky Referral

Case 7: Learn Something New

Case 8: Above Paygrade

Case 9: ACTing Ethically

Case 10: Is There a Doctor in the House?

Case 11: How Different Can It Be?

Case 12: Requested Removal

Case 13: Human Resources

Case 14: Discrimination Discrepancy

Case 15: Equal Opportunity

Case 16: Cultural Conclusions

Case 17: Canceled Considerations

Case 18: Break Up, Break Down

Case 19: Request for Service

Case 20: Unfriend Request

Case 21: Party Time

Case 22: The Only One for the Job

Case 23: Someone’s Gotta Do It

Case 24: I Know That Guy

Case 25: Lack of Snack

Case 26: Ethical Headache

Case 27: Sharing Is Caring

Case 28: Season Pass

Case 29: More Than Friends

Case 30: Swipe Left

Case 31: Just Not Into You

Case 32: Old Flame

Case 33: Slipped My Mind

Case 34: Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

Case 35: Under the Influence

Case 36: It’s Just Business

Case 37: Gentle Nudge

6. Section 2: Responsibility in Practice

Case 38: No “I” in Team

Case 39: Walking Billboard

Case 40: Word of Mouth

Case 41: Holiday Spirit

Case 42: Coffee Talk

Case 43: Decoration Dilemma

Case 44: Scam Likely

Case 45: My Password Is “Password”

Case 46: Need a Nap

Case 47: Billing Blunder

Case 48: Hidden Fees

Case 49: Monolingual Mess

Case 50: Identity First

Case 51: Safety First

Case 52: Preemptive Plan

Case 53: Ctrl-C/Ctrl-V

Case 54: Running on Empty

Case 55: Sweet Tooth

Case 56: Punitive Measures

Case 57: Let’s Move

Case 58: All in the Family

Case 59: Community Integration

Case 60: Supplies With Legs

Case 61: All Booked Up

Case 62: Unlocked and Unloaded

Case 63: Can You Hear Me Now?

Case 64: Zooming Into Treatment

Case 65: Promises, Promises

7. Section 3: Responsibility to Clients and Stakeholders

Case 66: Unfortunate News

Case 67: Short Staffed

Case 68: Fixer Upper

Case 69: Paused Payments

Case 70: On Call

Case 71: Stay in My Lane

Case 72: Rights to Results

Case 73: You Get What You Get

Case 74: Reasonable Suspicion

Case 75: Fighting Fads

Case 76: Stay the Course

Case 77: Put Words in Your Mouth

Case 78: Nonessential Oils

Case 79: Look No Further

Case 80: Muffin Melodrama

Casee 81: You Scratch My Back

Case 82: Cut Off

Case 83: Should I Stay or Should I Go

8. Section 4: Responsibility to Supervisees and Trainees

Case 84: Spread Too Thin

Case 85: Slippery Supervision

Case 86: Fractured Focus

Case 87: Compliment Sandwich

Case 88: Just Do It

Case 89: Too Good at Goodbyes

Case 90: In Search of Supervision

9. Section 5: Responsibility in Public Statements

Case 91: Hey, That’s Me!

Case 92: Getting the Word Out

Case 93: Take My Advice

Case 94: Problems in Press

Case 95: Press Release

Case 96: Public Persona

Case 97: Don’t Quote Me

Case 98: Varied Expertise

Case 99: Responding to Reviews

Case 100: Good Intentions

Case 101: #Hashtag

Case 102: Internet Troll

Case 103: Training the Trainers

Case 104: Top 10

10. Section 6: Responsibility in Research

Case 105: Crunch the Numbers

Case 106: Undue Influence

Case 107: Et Al

11.Complex Scenarios Involving Multiple Sections of the Code

Case 108: No Show, Oh No!

Case 109: Splitting Up Is Hard to Do

Case 110: Academic Advocacy

Case 111: Something’s in the Air

Case 112: Bury the Lead

Case 113: Chosen Name

Case 114: My Way or the Highway

Case 115: Sign on the Dotted Line

Case 116: Lost in Translation

Case 117: Mad Scientist

Case 118: Social Media Mayday

Case 119: Wear Many Hats

Case 120: Need for Concern?

Case 121: Glitch

Case 122: Behind Closed Doors

Case 123: Adapt and Adjust

Appendix A: Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts

Appendix B: Suggestions of Related Ethics Codes

Review quotes

"This workbook provides a tremendous resource for helping new behavior analysts work through commonly encountered ethical dilemmas.This will be a great asset in ethics courses and in preparation for the exam."—Linda A. LeBlanc, PhD, BCBA-D, LeBlanc Behavioral Consulting, Golden, Colorado

"A Workbook of Ethical Case Scenarios in Applied Behavior Analysis is a goldmine for instructors in search of case studies for teaching ethical decision-making and makes a significant and timely contribution to the field of behavior analysis."—Matthew T. Brodhead, PhD, BCBA-D, Assistant Professor, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

Review of the previous edition:

"Instructors wanting to encourage their students to become more sensitive to current ethical issues, will find this new book by Sush and Najdowski is the ideal text; the scenarios ring true to real-world situations and the authors focus not just on topical discussion but take a focused problem-solving approach."—Jon S. Bailey, PhD, BCBA-D, Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida

"A Workbook of Ethical Case Scenarios in Applied Behavior Analysis is a goldmine for instructors in search of case studies for teaching ethical decision-making and makes a significant and timely contribution to the field of behavior analysis." —Matthew T. Brodhead, PhD, BCBA-D, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan

"This workbook provides a tremendous resource for helping new behavior analysts work through commonly encountered ethical dilemmas. This will be a great asset in ethics courses and in preparation for the exam."—Linda A. LeBlanc, PhD, BCBA-D, LeBlanc Behavioral Consulting, Golden, Colorado

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"Sush and Najdowski provide a comprehensive set of scenarios that represent the full range of ethical standards set forth by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board®. The scenarios are realistic and relevant to situations a Board Certified Behavior Analyst® would likely encounter in his or her career. I especially like how the authors have structured the analysis of the scenarios in a behavior analytic format (e.g., analyzing the antecedents, behaviors, and consequences involved in the situation). The authors provide a behavioral skills training approach to the text by first providing models of how the practitioner should write answers to the provided scenarios and then providing space for guided practice to occur with a course instructor, supervisor, or mentor. I am eager to use this workbook with my own students and in my own instruction."—Stephanie M. Peterson, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Product details

  • Edition: 2
  • Latest edition
  • Published: December 6, 2021
  • Language: English

About the authors

DS

Darren Sush

Darren J. Sush, PsyD, BCBA-D, is a licensed clinical psychologist and a board certified behavior analyst (doctoral) with more than 15years of experience developing and providing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services for children and adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental disabilities. Dr. Sush is Head of Autism and Psychology with Evernorth Behavioral Health, a Cigna corporation, and is the coauthor of A Workbook of Ethical Case Scenarios in Applied Behavior Analysis. He is an adjunct faculty member in the ABA program at Pepperdine University, and an associate professor in the ABA and clinical psychology programs at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, teaching doctoral and master’s courses in ABA and psychology. He has presented at regional and national applied behavior analysis and autism-focused conferences, with media outlets and on podcasts. Within his practice, he specializes in providing therapy for parents of children with ASD and developmental disabilities and writes with Psychology Today online, focusing on resources and mental health for parents of children with ASD and developmental disabilities.
Affiliations and expertise
Pepperdine University, Department of Psychology, Los Angeles, CA, USA

AN

Adel C. Najdowski

Adel C. Najdowski, PhD, BCBA-D (she/her/hers), is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program at Pepperdine University as well as Research Manager at Halo Behavioral Health. Dr. Najdowski has provided ABA-based services to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental disabilities since 1995. She has more than 45 publications, including her books Flexible and Focused: Teaching Executive Function Skills to Individuals With Autism and Attention Disorders and A Workbook of Ethical Case Scenarios in Applied Behavior Analysis. She currently serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and has previously served for Behavior Analysis in Practice and as Guest Editor for a special issue in Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) and previously served on the board of directors for the California Association for Behavior Analysis (CalABA). She is also on the disciplinary review committee (DRC) for the BACB. Her current research interests include topics related to social justice teaching higher-order skills to children, teens, and adults diagnosed with ASD. She is a frequent speaker at conferences and on podcasts and web-based shows.
Affiliations and expertise
Pepperdine University, Department of Psychology, Los Angeles, CA, USA

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