Ethical Analysis of Professional Practice Scenarios

Ethical Analysis of Professional Practice Scenarios

Assignment Summary

Purpose: This assignment evaluates your ability to apply the BACB Ethics Code to real-world professional scenarios. You will analyze a series of professional actions, determine whether each action is ethical or unethical, justify your decision using specific ethics code elements, and identify appropriate ethical alternatives when needed.

Start Here

1. Review the relevant sections of the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts (2020), especially those related to confidentiality and public statements.
2. Download and complete the Scenario Table Template.
3. Review the Assignment 3 Rubric to understand grading expectations.
4. Use the Student Checklist before submitting to ensure all requirements are met.
5. Submit your completed Scenario Table Template in Moodle.

Tip: Expand the sections below by clicking on the heading. Click again to collapse the section.

Assignment Overview

In this assignment, you will take the role of a new BCBA working at a company called Brighthouse Learning. You will evaluate several actions related to confidentiality, advertising, testimonials, social media, and public statements.

For each action, you will decide whether the action is ethical or unethical based on the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts (2020). You will then explain your reasoning by identifying at least one relevant ethics code element and describing why it applies to the situation.

If the action is unethical, you must also describe what should be done instead to bring the action into ethical alignment. If the action is ethical, write N/A in the “What to Do Instead” column.

You must use the provided Scenario Table Template to complete and submit your responses.

Assignment Instructions

Complete all rows in the Scenario Table Template.

For each scenario, complete the following columns:

1. Ethical or Unethical: Clearly identify whether the action is ethical or unethical. Your decision should be based on the BACB Ethics Code, not personal opinion alone.
2. Why? Identify at least one specific BACB Ethics Code element that applies. Explain how the code element applies to the action. Use clear, objective, and behaviorally grounded language. Avoid vague explanations such as “it is wrong” or “it seems unethical” without code-based support.
3. What to Do Instead: If the action is unethical, describe a corrected ethical alternative. Your alternative should be specific enough to show what the BCBA or organization should do differently. If the action is ethical, write N/A.

Writing Expectations:

• Use a professional tone.
• Write in complete sentences.
• Be concise but sufficiently specific.
• Support each decision with ethics code reasoning.
• Use clear, objective, and behaviorally grounded language.
• Avoid vague or unsupported statements.
• Proofread for grammar, spelling, and clarity.

Formatting Requirements:

• Use the provided Scenario Table Template.
• Complete all required rows and columns.
• APA formatting is not required for this assignment.
• Submit your work as a Word document (.docx).

AI Use Disclosure

If you used AI tools in any part of this assignment, you must submit the required form and follow the course AI policy.

• Student AI Declaration Form: Click here to access the AI Use Declaration Form
• AI Policy: Click here to review the Policy on the Ethical Use of AI
• AI Guidelines: Click here to review the Guidelines for Students on the Ethical Use of AI in Coursework

Note: Failure to submit this form when required may result in grade penalties.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Common Pitfalls to Avoid (Read Before You Start)

• Ethical determination errors: Do not classify actions based on personal opinion or evaluate scenarios as a group.
• Incorrect or missing Ethics Code references: Include specific, relevant code numbers for each scenario.
• Weak explanations: Do not restate the scenario or define the code without applying it.
• Incomplete or inaccurate corrective actions: Provide specific corrective actions for unethical scenarios and write N/A for ethical scenarios.
• Writing and professionalism issues: Avoid informal language, fragments, and grammar or clarity issues.
• Submission errors: Use the required template, complete all rows/columns, submit the correct file type, and follow the file naming convention.