1.0 Responsible Conduct of Behavior Analysts

Behavior analysts maintain the high standards of behavior of the profession.

1.03 Maintaining Competence through Professional Development

 Behavior analysts maintain knowledge of current scientific and professional information in their areas of practice and undertake ongoing efforts to maintain competence in the skills they use by reading the appropriate literature, attending conferences and conventions, participating in workshops, obtaining additional coursework, and/or obtaining and maintaining appropriate professional credentials

9.03 Informed consent

Inform participants of the nature of the research; free to participate or decline/withdraw; foreseeable consequences of declining or withdrawing; significant factors that may influence willingness to participate; answer questions participants have.

3.03(a) Behavior-Analytic Assessment Consent 

Prior to conducting an assessment, behavior analysts must explain to the client the procedure(s) to be used, who will participate, and how the resulting information will be used.

2.0 Behavior Analysts' Responsibility to Clients

Behavior analysts have a responsibility to operate in the best interest of clients; whomever behavior analysts provide services, whether an individual person (service recipient), a parent or guardian of a service recipient, an organizational representative, a public or private organization, a firm, or a corporation.

8.01(a) Avoiding False or Deceptive Statements 

Behavior analysts do not make public statements that are false, deceptive, misleading, exaggerated, or fraudulent, either because of what they state, convey, or suggest or because of what they omit, concerning their research, practice, or other work activities or those of persons or organizations with which they are affiliated. Behavior analysts claim as credentials for their behavior-analytic work, only degrees that were primarily or exclusively behavior-analytic in content.

2.06(e) Maintaining Confidentiality

Behavior analysts must not share or create situations likely to result in the sharing of any identifying information (written, photographic, or video) about current clients and supervisees within social media contexts.

4.0 Behavior Analysts and the Behavior-Change Program

Behavior analysts are responsible for all aspects of the behavior-change program from conceptualization to implementation and ultimately to discontinuation.

4.07(b) Environmental Conditions that Interfere with Implementation

If environmental conditions hinder implementation of the behavior-change program, behavior analysts seek to eliminate the environmental constraints, or identify in writing the obstacles to doing so.

5.07 Evaluating the Effects of Supervision

Behavior analysts design systems for obtaining ongoing evaluation of their own supervision activities.

1.06(d) Multiple Relationships and Conflicts of Interest

Behavior analysts do not accept any gifts from or give any gifts to clients because this constitutes a multiple relationship.

7.02(b) Ethical Violations by Others and Risk of Harm

If a client’s legal rights are being violated, or if there is the potential for harm, behavior analysts must take the necessary action to protect the client, including, but not limited to, contacting relevant authorities, following organizational policies, and consulting with appropriate professionals, and documenting their efforts to address the matter.

9.06 Grant and Journal Reviews

Behavior analysts who serve on grant review panels or as manuscript reviewers avoid conducting any research described in grant proposals or manuscripts that they reviewed, except as replications fully crediting the prior researchers.

6.01 Affirming Principles

a) Above all other professional training, behavior analysts uphold and advance the values, ethics, and principles of the profession of behavior analysis.

b) Behavior analysts have an obligation to participate in behavior-analytic professional and scientific organizations or activities.

10.06 Being Familiar with This Code

Behavior analysts have an obligation to be familiar with this Code, other applicable ethics codes, including, but not limited to, licensure requirements for ethical conduct, and their application to behavior analysts’ work. Lack of awareness or misunderstanding of a conduct standard is not itself a defense to a charge of unethical conduct.

8.02 Intellectual Property

(a) Behavior analysts obtain permission to use trademarked or copyrighted materials as required by law. This includes providing citations, including trademark or copyright symbols on materials, that recognize the intellectual property of others.

(b) Behavior analysts give appropriate credit to authors when delivering lectures, workshops, or other presentations.

2.10(a) Documenting Professional Work and Research

Behavior analysts appropriately document their professional work in order to facilitate provision of services later by them or by other professionals, to ensure accountability, and to meet other requirements of organizations or the law.

3.01(a) Behavior-Analytic Assessment

 Behavior analysts conduct current assessments prior to making recommendations or developing behavior-change programs. The type of assessment used is determined by client’s needs and consent, environmental parameters, and other contextual variables. When behavior analysts are developing a behavior-reduction program, they must first conduct a functional assessment

9.05 Debriefing

Behavior analysts inform the participant that debriefing will occur at the conclusion of the participant’s involvement in the research.

2.03 Consultation

(a) Behavior analysts arrange for appropriate consultations and referrals based principally on the best interests of their clients, with appropriate consent, and subject to other relevant considerations, including applicable law and contractual obligations.

(b) When indicated and professionally appropriate, behavior analysts cooperate with other professionals, in a manner that is consistent with the philosophical assumptions and principles of behavior analysis, in order to effectively and appropriately serve their clients.