Abstract
There is strong evidence supporting the use of functional behavioral assessment (FBA) to identify effective treatments to address a wide variety of challenging behaviors. Behavior analysts and psychologists conducting FBAs are engaging in assessment behavior that is explicitly addressed in the ethical codes of the American Psychological Association (APA), Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), and National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). Professionals engaging in FBA must keep in mind a number of considerations to ensure that their assessment practice is aligned with the ethical guidelines of professional organizations. This chapter discusses issues related to informed consent, professional competence, the principle of do no harm, and client right to effective treatment in the context of FBA. In addition, the chapter presents alternatives to traditional functional analysis (FA) that may address ethical concerns. Finally, the chapter presents ethical considerations for use of FBA in schools.
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Hawkins, R.O., Collins, T.A., Heidelburg, K., Hawkins, J.A. (2021). Ethical Issues in Functional Assessment. In: Matson, J.L. (eds) Functional Assessment for Challenging Behaviors and Mental Health Disorders. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-66270-7_15
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