Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, Vol 22(4), Nov 2022, 368-381; doi:10.1037/bar0000254
Board Certified Behavior Analysts® (BCBA®s) are required to abide by a professional ethics code published by their certifying board, the Behavior Analyst Certification Board®. While the ethics code attempts to address the topics most likely to confront a behavior analyst, the areas of ethical concern most frequently encountered by practicing behavior analysts have not been previously investigated. To better understand the content of ethical dilemmas being confronted, we conducted a survey of behavior analysts, asking them to describe ethical dilemmas faced in their practice. A total of 252 ethical dilemmas were coded to identify the ethical codes associated with these dilemmas and the relationships in which the dilemmas were experienced. Respondents were also surveyed on their use of the ethics code in practice and how long they had been in practice. Implications regarding supervision of aspiring behavior analysts, professional development, and development of ethics in the field are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)