This comparison draws in part from “Ethical Conundrums: 5 C's of Consideration” by Amanda N. Kelly, Ph.D., BCBA-D (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 ethical conundrums: 5 c's of consideration, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Consistency Across Situations | Structured frameworks produce consistent analysis regardless of practitioner mood, stress level, or familiarity with the situation, ensuring all relevant dimensions are examined | Intuitive approaches are influenced by cognitive biases, emotional state, and recency effects, leading to variable quality of reasoning across similar situations |
| Speed of Application | Structured models require dedicated time to work through each step, which may feel impractical in time-pressured situations but prevents impulsive decisions | Intuitive judgment is fast and feels efficient, allowing rapid responses to ethical concerns as they arise during sessions or meetings |
| Defensibility | Documented structured reasoning creates a clear record of the analysis process, protecting practitioners if their decision is later questioned by licensing boards or employers | Intuitive decisions are difficult to reconstruct and defend after the fact, leaving practitioners vulnerable to second-guessing and allegations of inadequate reasoning |
| Handling Novel Situations | Structured models guide analysis of unfamiliar situations by ensuring all relevant factors are considered, even when the practitioner lacks direct experience with the specific scenario | Intuitive judgment relies heavily on pattern recognition from past experience, making it less reliable for novel situations that do not match existing mental models |
| Training and Scalability | Structured frameworks can be taught to all staff levels, creating organizational consistency and enabling less experienced practitioners to make well-reasoned ethical decisions | Intuitive ethical judgment develops primarily through experience and mentorship, creating significant variability across practitioners and difficulty scaling across teams |
| Integration of Multiple Perspectives | The 5 C's and similar frameworks systematically prompt consideration of context, consequences, consultation, compliance, and compassion, ensuring a multi-dimensional analysis | Intuitive approaches tend to anchor on one or two salient dimensions of the situation, potentially overlooking stakeholders or consequences not immediately apparent |
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 ethical conundrums: 5 c's of consideration 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.
Ethical Conundrums: 5 C's of Consideration — Amanda N. Kelly · 1 BACB Ethics CEUs · $15
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
252 research articles with practitioner takeaways
239 research articles with practitioner takeaways
1 BACB Ethics CEUs · $15 · BehaviorLive
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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.