Amanda Karsten- Three Steps to Fast, Smart, and Client-Centered Decisions for the Busy Practitioner

1.0 Type II CE Credits/ 1.0 Ethics Credits

About the presentation:

Behavioral data play an essential role in the ethical and effective delivery of ABA services. The process of gathering and interpreting those data, however, may leave practitioners short on time and stakeholders scratching their heads – how many forms, interviews, assessments, or charts does a behavior analyst need to serve his or her clients well? The goals of my presentation are 1) to assert the essential role of behavioral data in the practice of behavior analysis, 2) to discuss potential obstacles for a data-driven and analytic approach to practice, and 3) to propose three strategies for busy practitioners to further benefit their clients through the discipline of data-based decision making.

Upon completion of this presentation, you will be able to:

• List several ways in which practice-based data contribute to more ethical and client-centered ABA
• Identify three essential features of good (i.e. decision worthy) practice-based data.
• Describe environmental factors that may exert too much influence over a practitioner’s assessment and treatment decisions if good, practice-based data are not also considered.
• Describe strategies for busy practitioners (a) to enhance the role of good data in their professional decisions and (b) to contribute to a culture of client-centered decisions.