A Workbook of Ethical Case Scenarios in Applied Behavior Analysis

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. 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.

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