This comparison draws in part from “Ethical Implications to an Interdisciplinary Approach to Service Delivery” by Stephanie Nostin, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCBA, LABA (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 implications to an interdisciplinary approach to service delivery, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment Process | Siloed Practice: Each discipline conducts independent assessments. Results are documented separately and may not be shared across providers. The BCBA may be unaware of OT or SLP findings that are clinically relevant. | Integrated Collaboration: Assessment data is shared across disciplines before treatment planning. Professionals review each other's findings and identify how their respective assessments inform a comprehensive clinical picture. |
| Goal Setting | Siloed Practice: Each discipline sets goals independently based on their own assessment. Goals may overlap, conflict, or create competing demands on the client's time and energy. | Integrated Collaboration: Goals are set collaboratively or at minimum reviewed across disciplines for alignment. Shared priorities are identified and competing demands are resolved before implementation begins. |
| Communication Frequency | Siloed Practice: Communication occurs only at required meetings (annual IEPs, quarterly reviews) or when a crisis forces contact. Day-to-day clinical decisions are made without cross-disciplinary input. | Integrated Collaboration: Regular communication channels exist for ongoing coordination. Updates are shared proactively when clinical changes occur, not just at scheduled intervals. |
| Family Experience | Siloed Practice: Family receives separate recommendations from each provider and must reconcile differences independently. May receive contradictory guidance about how to respond to the same behaviors at home. | Integrated Collaboration: Family receives coordinated guidance with consistent recommendations across providers. One point of contact or team meeting format reduces the burden on families to manage professional communication. |
| Intervention Consistency | Siloed Practice: Different providers may use incompatible strategies for the same skill area. Communication training in ABA may conflict with the SLP's approach, creating confusion for the client. | Integrated Collaboration: Intervention strategies are coordinated to ensure consistency. When different approaches are used, the team has discussed why and ensured they are complementary rather than contradictory. |
| Client Outcomes | Siloed Practice: Progress in one area may be undermined by uncoordinated interventions in another. Generalization failures are more common when environmental responses are inconsistent across therapeutic contexts. | Integrated Collaboration: Coordinated interventions produce more consistent learning environments, supporting generalization. Cross-disciplinary progress monitoring catches problems earlier and allows faster adjustment. |
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 implications to an interdisciplinary approach to service delivery 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 Implications to an Interdisciplinary Approach to Service Delivery — Stephanie Nostin · 2 BACB Ethics CEUs · $20
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.
280 research articles with practitioner takeaways
279 research articles with practitioner takeaways
258 research articles with practitioner takeaways
2 BACB Ethics CEUs · $20 · BehaviorLive
Research-backed educational guide
Research-backed answers for behavior analysts
You earn CEUs from a dozen different places. Upload any certificate — from here, your employer, conferences, wherever — and always know exactly where you stand. Learning, Ethics, Supervision, all handled.
No credit card required. Cancel anytime.
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.