This comparison draws in part from “2025 Conference Intro & Invited Speaker: Breaking Through the Glass Ceiling: The Cost of Success for Black Women in ABA” by Quatiba Davis, M.Ed., BCBA, LABA, LBA IBA (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 2025 conference intro & invited speaker: breaking through the glass ceiling: the cost of success for black women in aba, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Explanation for disparities | Attributes advancement disparities to individual differences in qualifications, effort, or career choices; views the system as fundamentally neutral | Identifies structural barriers, implicit bias, and cumulative disadvantage as primary drivers of disparities; views the system as producing inequitable outcomes regardless of individual merit |
| Approach to mentorship | Mentorship develops organically based on shared interests and interpersonal chemistry; no targeted programs needed | Recognizes that organic mentorship tends to reproduce existing networks; creates targeted mentorship programs to ensure access for underrepresented groups |
| Hiring and promotion practices | Standardized criteria applied equally to all candidates; additional consideration of demographics is viewed as unfair advantage | Structured processes with bias-reduction safeguards; actively works to ensure diverse candidate pools and equitable evaluation |
| Response to DEI initiatives being dismantled | Views dismantling as a correction toward meritocracy and away from preferential treatment | Views dismantling as a threat to progress toward equity that requires continued advocacy and creative approaches to maintain equity goals |
| Accountability for outcomes | Individuals are accountable for their own career outcomes; organizational responsibility is limited to providing equal opportunity | Organizations and systems are accountable for equitable outcomes; when outcomes are inequitable, the system must be examined and modified |
| Alignment with behavior analytic principles | Focuses on individual behavior change as the pathway to success | Applies environmental analysis to organizational systems, recognizing that behavior is a function of its context and that inequitable environments produce inequitable outcomes |
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 2025 conference intro & invited speaker: breaking through the glass ceiling: the cost of success for black women in aba 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.
2025 Conference Intro & Invited Speaker: Breaking Through the Glass Ceiling: The Cost of Success for Black Women in ABA — Quatiba Davis · 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
258 research articles with practitioner takeaways
239 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.