Ethical and Professional Practices Flashcards

A BCAT technician works with a client whose family holds cultural beliefs that conflict with some ABA strategies. The ethical approach is to:

Answer: Collaborate with the BCBA to adapt strategies that respect cultural values while maintaining clinical effectiveness

Culturally sensitive practice requires working with supervisors to honor family values without sacrificing the effectiveness of the behavior plan.

Which of the following is the most appropriate use of a behavior technician's session notes?

Answer: Using them to track client progress and inform BCBA supervision decisions

Session notes exist to document progress, guide clinical decision-making, and support supervision — they are not for external sharing or personal storage.

A technician is asked to implement a new procedure between supervision sessions without having received training on it. The technician should:

Answer: Delay implementation and contact the supervising BCBA to request training or clarification first

Implementing untrained procedures poses risk to clients; technicians must seek guidance from their BCBA before proceeding.

A BCAT technician disagrees with a directive from their employer that they believe is unethical. The most appropriate first step is to:

Answer: Raise the concern directly and professionally with the supervisor or ethics officer

Ethical concerns about employer directives should first be addressed through internal professional channels before escalating externally.

Which best describes the role of a BCBA in relation to a BCAT technician regarding ethics?

Answer: The BCBA supervises the technician but both share responsibility for ethical practice

Both the supervising BCBA and the technician are responsible for ethical conduct; supervision does not transfer the technician's personal ethical obligations.

A client's behavior plan includes a preference assessment component. This best reflects which ethical principle?

Answer: Autonomy and client-centered practice

Preference assessments give clients a voice in selecting reinforcers, reflecting respect for their autonomy and individual preferences.

When a BCAT technician receives clinical supervision, the primary purpose of that supervision is to:

Answer: Ensure the technician implements interventions competently and ethically to benefit the client

Clinical supervision exists to protect client welfare by ensuring that technicians apply interventions accurately, safely, and ethically.