Unit 9 discusses a behavior analysts’ responsibility in research and how to conform to laws and regulations. You always protect the dignity and well-being of your research participants, and you are required to obtain informed consent from each participant before beginning the research study. The confidentiality of all participants must be protected.
Section 6 of the code also stipulates that no falsifying of data will be tolerated, including leaving out findings that could change the study’s outcome. After each study, behavior analysts make their original data available to other researchers to advance the field.
Scenario
Freya is a BCBA who is interested in studying functional communication training in preschool-aged children. She wants to work with a group of individuals diagnosed with autism between the ages of 3 and 5. She lives near a clinic where her nephew goes with an early intervention program and is eager to see if this clinic will allow her to work with these kids. She starts by meeting with the director and asking if she can have permission to come in and observe. The director says yes as long as she signs a non-disclosure agreement that is HIPPA compliant, protecting the clients’ privacy. She is thrilled about this opportunity.
She begins interacting with the children and gathering information about how they are communicating. This information will serve as a baseline for her study. She figures, if she can get a head start, this will move up her timeline.
Discussion
Discuss the ethical dilemma here in regards to a behavior analysts’ responsibility in research. What should Freya do before she works with these clients? What other ethical dilemmas is she faced with? Describe the Code(s) to consider regarding this situation.