Assessing the Reliability of and Preference for an Ethical Decision Model
A formal ethics model boosts consistency, but most BCBAs still trust their gut—experience and culture shape that choice.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Beaulieu et al. (2025) asked BCBAs to solve the same tough ethics cases twice. First they used their own gut. Then they followed a six-step decision model. The team scored how alike the answers were. They also asked, "Would you use this model again?"
The survey ran online. Experience level, culture, and setting were tracked to see who liked the tool.
What they found
The model made choices line up: raters agreed far more when BCBAs used the steps. Yet most BCBAs still said, "I prefer my own way." New grads liked the model more. Veterans and those from collectivist cultures liked it less.
How this fits with other research
Schulz et al. (2024) showed a two-hour group BST can teach peer-support staff to set ethical boundaries. Their staff had no prior ethics training, so a script was welcome. Beaulieu’s BCBAs already had judgment, so the model felt like a straitjacket.
Kittler et al. (2004) used the same survey trick: ask staff to rate plans, then show a rule. They also found staff stick with what feels comfortable. The pattern repeats: tools help consistency, but comfort drives choice.
Ampuero et al. (2025) swapped full BST for brief feedback and saved time without losing fidelity. The lesson: lean tools can work if they feel easy. Beaulieu’s model may need a lighter, faster version to win fans.
Why it matters
You can’t assume a shiny new form will replace BCBA judgment. Use the model when you need agreement—insurance reviews, team disputes, or supervision notes. Pair it with a quick BST demo to show how fast it runs. Keep your old method handy for day-to-day calls.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Promoting ethical behavior among behavior analysts is important to enhance the quality of services. One method to enhance ethical decision making is using a decision model; however, there is limited research evaluating decision models to address ethical dilemmas in behavior analysis. This study used an online survey to investigate ethical decision making. Seventy-five board certified behavior analysts (BCBAs) were presented with scenarios that posed ethical dilemmas. During baseline, participants were instructed to use their own method to identify solutions to the ethical dilemmas and identify factors that led to their decision. Following exposure to a decision-making model, participants were instructed to choose between their method (“My Way”) or the decision model prior to solving additional ethical dilemmas via a concurrent chain arrangement. The results showed considerable variability in ethical decisions across participants, with an increase in reliability when using the decision model. However, participants preferred using their own method over the decision model, and preference varied based on years of experience and cultural variables (race, gender identity).
Behavior Analysis in Practice, 2025 · doi:10.1007/s40617-023-00790-4