This comparison draws in part from “Behavior Analysis and Diversity: Expanding our Workforce” by Kristen Koba-Burdt, BCBA, LBA, CDP (BehaviorLive), and extends it with peer-reviewed research from our library of 27,900+ ABA research articles. The decision framework, BACB ethics code references, and cross-links below are synthesized by Behaviorist Book Club.
View the original presentation →One of the most consequential decisions a behavior analyst makes is not just what intervention to use, but how to approach the clinical question in the first place. For behavior analysis and diversity: expanding our workforce, the difference between an evidence-based, individualized approach and a traditional, protocol-driven one can significantly impact outcomes.
This guide lays out the key factors side by side to support your clinical decision-making.
| Factor | Evidence-Based Approach | Traditional Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Scope of Impact | Organization-Level: Affects the specific organization's workforce composition, culture, and client services | Field-Level: Affects the profession's overall demographics, training pipeline, and professional standards |
| Speed of Change | Organization-Level: Can produce visible changes in months through targeted recruitment and culture initiatives | Field-Level: Systemic changes in training and pipeline take years to affect workforce demographics |
| Control and Accountability | Organization-Level: Leadership has direct control over hiring, policies, culture, and can be held accountable for results | Field-Level: Change requires coordination across many independent stakeholders with diffuse accountability |
| Pipeline Development | Organization-Level: Limited to recruiting from the existing talent pool and supporting internal advancement | Field-Level: Can expand the talent pool by increasing awareness of behavior analysis careers in diverse communities and creating accessible training pathways |
| Culture Change | Organization-Level: Can create inclusive cultures within specific workplaces through deliberate practices and policies | Field-Level: Can shift professional norms and expectations around diversity through ethics codes, accreditation standards, and continuing education requirements |
| Sustainability | Organization-Level: Dependent on continued leadership commitment and may regress with leadership changes | Field-Level: Structural changes such as accreditation requirements and ethics code provisions are more durable over time |
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ on-demand CEUs including ethics, supervision, and clinical topics like this one. Plus a new live CEU every Wednesday.
Use this framework when approaching behavior analysis and diversity: expanding our workforce in your practice:
Does the data support a need for intervention? Is there a meaningful impact on the individual's quality of life, safety, or access to reinforcement?
YES → Proceed to assessment NO → Document reasoning, monitor
A functional assessment should guide intervention selection. Avoid defaulting to standard protocols without individual analysis. Consider environmental variables, setting events, and private events.
YES → Select evidence-based approach matched to function NO → Complete assessment first
Goals should be co-developed. Assent and informed consent are ethical requirements. The individual's preferences and values matter in selecting both goals and methods.
YES → Proceed with collaborative plan NO → Engage in shared decision-making
This course covers the clinical and ethical dimensions in detail with structured learning objectives and CEU credit.
Behavior Analysis and Diversity: Expanding our Workforce — Kristen Koba-Burdt · 1 BACB Ethics CEUs · $0
Take This Course →We extended this decision guide with research from our library — dig into the peer-reviewed studies behind each approach, in plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
279 research articles with practitioner takeaways
239 research articles with practitioner takeaways
225 research articles with practitioner takeaways
1 BACB Ethics CEUs · $0 · BehaviorLive
Research-backed educational guide
Research-backed answers for behavior analysts
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All behavior-analytic intervention is individualized. The information on this page is for educational purposes and does not constitute clinical advice. Treatment decisions should be informed by the best available published research, individualized assessment, and obtained with the informed consent of the client or their legal guardian. Behavior analysts are responsible for practicing within the boundaries of their competence and adhering to the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts.