Total Competence in Applied Behavior Analysis and in Your Specialty Casey Nottingham Caldwell College

Sources Bailey, J., & Burch, M. (2010). 25 essential skills & strategies for the professional behavior analyst. New York, NY: Routledge. Bailey, J., & Burch, M. (2010). Ethics for behavior analysts (2 nd Expanded Edition). New York, NY: Routledge. ABAI website APBA website BABAT website Van Houten et al. (1988) Carr & Briggs (2010)

Presentation Outline Why problems arise Guidelines for Responsible Conduct Van Houten et al. (1988) Competence in behavior analysis Competence in your specialty Questions

Behavior Analysis: A Robust Field Offers services to many various consumers –Infants and senior citizens –Individuals with disabilities –Athletes –CEOs Experience with clients outside of the developmental disabilities specialty? Bailey & Burch, 2010a, p. 59

Special Interest Groups Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) special interest groups (SIGs) include: –Applied animal behavior –Autism –Behavior analysis in military and veterans’ issues –Crime, delinquency, and forensic behavior analysis –Gambling interests/special-interest-groups.aspx

Behavior Analysis Positive impact for many consumers –Research-based practices –Effective technologies However, there may be times when we are ineffective –Incompetent personnel Bailey & Burch, 2010a, p. 59

Competence as a Behavior Analyst Problems result when behavior analysts take on cases without considering their training history Should not take on cases simply because they are available, pay well, in a convenient location, etc. –Are you qualified? Bailey & Burch, 2010a, p. 60

What is Competence? Hard to know when one is competent You must only practice in areas where you have had formal training If you must practice outside your area of training, you must seek training in the new area Bailey & Burch (2010b)

Outline Guidelines for Responsible Conduct Address multiple guidelines that deal with competence

Guidelines for Responsible Conduct Bailey & Burch, 2010b, p. 58

Guidelines for Responsible Conduct Bailey & Burch, 2010b, p. 59

Ethics Scenario Bailey & Burch, 2010b, p. 58

Van Houten et al. (1988) Provided a list of client rights to guide the appropriate use of behavior analysis Individual has a right to: –Therapeutic environment –Services whose goal is personal welfare –Treatment by a competent behavior analyst* –Programs that teach functional skills –Behavioral assessment/ongoing evaluation –The most effective treatment procedures Van Houten et al. (1988)

Van Houten and colleagues (1988) suggest competent behavior analysts possess: –Appropriate education AND experience –Knowledge of behavioral principles –Knowledge of assessment and treatment –Knowledge of research methodology –Professional ethics –Practicum training and supervision –Experience with relevant client population Van Houten et al. (1988)

Van Houten et al. (1988) also recommend doctoral-level behavior analysts for complex cases Competent doctoral-level behavior analysts also possess: –Expertise in subtle details of assessment and treatment –Training skills to ensure the competence of those delivering services –Responsibility for consulting and following-up services in complex cases Van Houten et al. (1988)

BACB EXAM.

Total Competence Means to go beyond passing the BACB exam Exam is a test of minimal competence in behavior analysis Bailey & Burch, 2010a, p. 60

How to Be Competent in Behavior Analysis Read Continuing education opportunities Books ABAI conference and other conferences Regular dialogues with colleagues Professional journals Workshops Bailey & Burch, 2010a, pp

Keeping Up with Current Literature Contacting the most recently published literature = stay competent in behavior analysis Carr & Briggs (2010) provide strategies for making contact with the most recent literature

Carr & Briggs (2010) PsycINFO subscription –Expensive –Organizational subscription Create a list of commonly access journals –Subscribe to these –Free journals –Online journals Alma mater library Google Scholar Self-management procedures

Continuing Education February, 2013 – BACB Newsletter –32 CE credits per 2-year recertification cycle for BCBAs/BCBA-Ds; 20 for BCaBAs 38http:// 38 –CE providers/events

Conference Attendance ABAI –40 th Annual Convention –May 23 – 27, 2014 in Chicago APBA –4 th Annual APBA Convention –March 27 – 29, 2014 in New Orleans BABAT –34 th Annual BABAT Conference –October 17 – 18, 2013 in Amherst

Workshops Workshops in your specialty or in new areas Caldwell College upcoming workshops –Student prices –CE credits –Networking opportunity

Total Competence in Your Specialty Define your area of expertise –Let’s try! Consider courses taken and (supervised) practicum experiences you have had Subscribe to specialty journals –E.g., TAVB Accrue years of experience working in a specific area in various settings Bailey & Burch, 2010a, p. 62

Maintaining Competence Bailey & Burch, 2010b, p. 59

Ethics Scenario Bailey & Burch, 2010b, p. 60

Are You Competent in Your Specialty? Read current research in best journal on topic? Own books on the topic? Read them? Attended workshops on the topic in the past year? Personally trained by a qualified BCBA? Identify experts on this topic? Contact them? Colleagues consult you on this topic? Given state or national presentations on the topic? Bailey & Burch, 2010a, p. 63

Declining Cases Based on client’s best interest When? –Behavior problem exceeds your expertise –You have not had training on an issue How? –With client’s full knowledge –Refer to a qualified provider –Consult with other professionals Bailey & Burch, 2010b, p. 78

Maintaining Your Competence Monitor your practice! –If something is unethical or ineffective, change it –Have others review your practice and your collected data

Summary Competence is needed: –In behavior analysis, in general –In your specialty –In terms of the population of clients –In research and research methodology –In training and supervising –In teaching If you do not feel competent: –Seek out a mentor in the area or further training –Refer the case –Decline the case

Professional Liability Insurance Even for competent practitioners, things may go wrong APBA member discount

References Association for Behavior Analysis International. (2013). Special interests. Retrieved from interests.aspx Bailey, J., & Burch, M. (2010a). 25 essential skills & strategies for the professional behavior analyst. New York, NY: Routledge. Bailey, J., & Burch, M. (2010b). Ethics for behavior analysts (2 nd Expanded Edition). New York, NY: Routledge. Behavior Analyst Certification Board. (2013). BACB newsletter – Special edition on new standards. Retrieved from 13.pdf

References Behavior Analyst Certification Board. (n.d.). Maintaining Certification. Retrieved from The Berkshire Association for Behavior Analysis and Therapy. (n.d.). The 34 th annual BABAT conference. Retrieved from Carr, J. E., & Briggs, A. M. (2010). Strategies for making regular contact with the scholarly literature. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 3, Van Houten, R., Axelrod, S., Bailey, J. S., Favell, J. E., Foxx, R. M., Iwata, B. A., & Lovaas, O. I. (1988). The right to effective behavioral treatment. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 21,