Chapter 3 Jilian Planer

1. What Make Behavior Analysis Unique? Chapter 3 Jilian Planer

2. Scientific Basis • Requires txt are based on our science • Single subject design • Each person is his/her own control • Baseline data always collected • Txts custom-made to individuals • Evaluation continues until txt is terminated

3. Wide Range of Clients • Developmentally-Disabled • Multiply Physically Handicapped • Children and Adults with Autism • Wide range of level of functioning • Corporate Supervisors, managers, and CEOs

4. Requirements for BCBAs • Keep up with latest developments in specialty and the most recent literature • Only recommend/apply procedures proven effective • From peer-reviewed journals • That have clear demonstrations of experimental control: NO CORRELATIONS HERE! • Changes in treatment must be data based • “Evidence-based treatment” is the standard (and has been for us for the past 30 years!)

5. BCBA responsible for: Determining seriousness of behavior Baseline data Background work Functional assessment Treatment plan Then: Showing the “team” the importance of the plan How it should be implemented Thorough training is required by code of ethics Treatment Implementation

6. Clinical Psychologists Therapy in clinic setting One-on-one with patients Self-selected treatment Patient leaves at end Patient can voice their problems or concerns about themselves Behavior Analysts Work done in setting where behavior occurs Sometimes one-on-one with clients Referred by someone else Behavior is often severe and person has to be supervision Working with vulnerable populations Often clients cannot speak or ambulate Clinical Psychologists vs. Behavior Analysts

7. “The third party” • Difficult to sometimes determine who our client is • E.g. was an individual referred for treatment of screaming and running away, but upon further investigation you find they are actually screaming and running away because they are being mistreated? • “The third party”, the referring person, usually ends up not being our true client

8. Walking a fine line • Need to take special care to not stigmatize clients • Cannot have obtrusive observation systems/data collection methods; must collect reliable/valid data • Clients have the right to privacy, effective treatment, be treated with dignity and respect • Cannot simply restrain, isolate, or overmedicate individuals to stop behavior • Must conduct a functional assessment to determine cause of behavior

9. “Behavior Modification” • Early behavior analysis put emphasis on consequences • Often aversive consequences • Lack of ethical and professional guidelines lead to mistreatment and a poor reputation for our field • Most advances in ethics came out of this time • Least Restrictive Alternative

10. Punishment Most restrictive Only recommended after reinforcement has been tried Reinforcement should be included in these procedures to increase desirable behavior at the same time Reinforcement Least restrictive Recommended before punishment procedures Using positive reinforcement must be balanced with providing most effective treatment Least Restrictive Alternative

11. Employment • State agency or private consulting firm • The employer is “the third party” • Employers needs to hold BCBAs accountable and vice versa • Employee must always uphold BACB Guidelines even when under pressure from employer

12. Greater Good • Potential to do good for clients and society by: • Analyzing complex problematic behaviors • Finding humane and effective solutions • Implementing programs that work • Using least-restrictive, most-effective, evidence-based treatments • Doing it all with limited resources and time!

13. One Final Thought • “It is the goal of the BACB Guidelines to assure that this outcome is consistently achieved while protecting clients’ rights at all times”

14. In Conclusion • Behavior Analysis is a unique science • Each BCBA is unique • Each learner, student, or person that experiences our treatments are unique

15. Questions?

16. Thank You