Hanneke reviews data from a descriptive assessment with his client. The data indicate that this client’s challenging behavior is likely maintained by attention. However, Hanneke has a gut feeling that his client’s behavior is maintained by automatic reinforcement and wants to design an intervention based on this assumption. What is the most appropriate course of action for Hanneke to take?

A coworker asks Ashma, a BCBA, for advice on a client’s behavior plan. The client engages in challenging behavior when transitioning between rooms in the therapy center. The proposed plan requires immediate physical prompting. However, the client’s elbow has been dislocated several times when others attempted to redirect the client. Given this scenario, what is Ashma’s best course of action?

Freya, a BCBA, needs a behavior intervention plan for a client who has begun to engage in aggressive behavior. Freya conducts a functional assessment and writes up a behavior intervention plan. She implements the plan immediately without consulting her client’s caregivers. What is the best course of action for Freya to take?

Janos uses pinpointing and reinforcement techniques from the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management to help improve his employees’ performance. This is an example of:

Hugo, a BCBA, owns an ABA therapy company. A school district has contracted Hugo to provide services to students who do not have outside ABA therapy teams. The district representatives and Hugo negotiate terms of their agreement. Hugo has included the responsibilities of all parties, the scope of behavioral services provided, and the use of the information obtained through the provided services. When district representatives ask him about his Ethics Code and maintaining the students’ confidentiality, Hugo says that it is not necessary to include those items in the agreement and everyone signs. Which ethics standard is being violated in this scenario?

Jean-Paul’s father asks a BCBA about her experience with children exhibiting self-injurious behavior. The BCBA states that she has had plenty of experience in this area. In truth, the BCBA has experience with only one case of an adult who exhibited self-injurious behavior, but she is confident that she can assist Jean-Paul with his skin-picking behavior. Which ethics standard is the BCBA violating in this scenario?

Chiu has been receiving ABA services in the family home and at a center for 12 months. Chiu’s father is the primary caregiver, and the only caregiver authorized to give consent for services. Initially, Chiu’s father signed the permission and consent forms that allow Chiu’s grandma to pick up and drop off Chiu when his father is unavailable. During the last drop-off, Chiu’s grandma insisted on adding new protocols to the treatment plan.  The grandmother wrote down the new goals and told the BCBA that she would sign the consent form the next day.   Which ethics standard should the behavior analyst primarily consider in this scenario?

Ramon, a BCBA, works with a student who receives speech-language therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy services. Ramon refuses to work with the occupational therapist because their practice of sensory integration therapy is not evidence-based. Which ethics standard is Ramon violating?

Sophie, a BCaBA, works with two siblings in their family home. She typically spends 1 hour with each sibling individually. Their programs include peer interactions and turn taking and often involve neighbors or other relatives. The parents suggest that Sophie overlap her sessions by 30 minutes and that she work with both children simultaneously. They propose that she bill for 2 hours while working for only 1 hour and 30 minutes. What would be the best course of action for Sophie to take?

Tristan, a BCBA, has been working with six-year-old Charley on compliance with parental requests. Charley has made significant progress, and Tristan decides that treatment is no longer necessary. While the caregivers are pleased with the therapy’s results, they are surprised by the abrupt ending and have questions about continuing strategies as Charley grows older. Which ethics standard is being violated in this scenario?