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E.11: Identify personal biases and how they might interfere with professional activity.

Free practice questions for this part of the BCBA, with an explanation for every option.

Under the Ethics Code, what is a behavior analyst's responsibility regarding personal biases?
  1. A. Stay aware of how personal biases may affect professional activities, and take appropriate steps to address them
    Correct. Behavior analysts maintain awareness of their biases and take steps to address their effects on professional work.
  2. B. Biases are fully eliminated by following behavioral principles
    Incorrect. Following technical procedures doesn't remove bias from decisions like goal selection.
  3. C. Disclose all personal beliefs to every client at intake
    Incorrect. Blanket disclosure isn't required and doesn't deal with the bias.
  4. D. Biases matter only if a client files a complaint
    Incorrect. Behavior analysts are responsible for monitoring their biases proactively, not only when someone complains.
While reviewing his caseload, a BCBA notices that he tends to set less ambitious academic goals for clients from low-income families, even when their assessment results are similar to other clients'. What is the best next step?
  1. A. Raise goals for all clients by a fixed amount
    Incorrect. A blanket change isn't individualized and ignores what caused the problem.
  2. B. Keep the pattern, since lower goals protect these families from stress
    Incorrect. This rationalizes a bias that limits clients' opportunities.
  3. C. Recognize this as a possible bias, base goals on individual assessment data, seek consultation, and monitor his future goal-setting
    Correct. Spotting the bias and tying decisions to objective data, with consultation, addresses its impact.
  4. D. Transfer the low-income clients to another BCBA
    Incorrect. Transferring clients based on income could be discriminatory and avoids dealing with the bias.
A BCBA is assigned a family led by two fathers. He notices he feels uncomfortable because of his personal beliefs. Which response best fits the Ethics Code?
  1. A. Tell the fathers about his discomfort so they can decide whether to continue
    Incorrect. This puts his problem on the family and may harm the relationship.
  2. B. Ask to transfer the case right away, because his values conflict with the family's
    Incorrect. Turning away a family because of its structure can amount to discrimination. The priority is addressing the bias.
  3. C. Ignore the reaction, since professionals don't need to examine their feelings
    Incorrect. Unexamined biases can quietly affect service quality.
  4. D. Acknowledge the bias, seek consultation or training to make sure it doesn't affect his services, and provide effective, nondiscriminatory services
    Correct. Behavior analysts address their biases through actions like consultation and do not discriminate based on family structure or sexual orientation.

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