Ethics of Standardization of Practice

Description

The standardization of decision-making in behavior-analytic practice may reduce practitioner effort while simultaneously freeing resources to engage in other, and perhaps more complex, tasks. However, the extent to which standardized processes for decision-making improve practitioner performance, and subsequently improve client outcomes, is not quite clear. Furthermore, the ethical implications of standardizing decision-making processes require careful consideration. The purpose of this presentation is to present three recent research studies on the standardization of decision-making in behavior analysis, using visual analysis as a case example. The purpose and results of the reviewed studies will be discussed in the context of ethical and professional issues (e.g., scope of competence, the right to effective treatment, and individualized behavior-change programs) that are at the forefront of practicing-behavior analysts.