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.
About the presenter:
Amanda Karsten, BCBA-D, is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Western New England University. Dr. Karsten serves on the editorial boards for Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and The Analysis of Verbal Behavior. Dr. Karsten’s clinical and scholarly interests include early intensive behavioral intervention, professional decision making, and teaching complex social skills. In addition to advising students in the Master’s and Doctoral programs in Behavior Analysis at WNEU, Dr. Karsten collaborates with Dr. Bonni Alpert, Dean of Student Disability Services, to deliver a peer-mediated social and academic support program for college students diagnosed with ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder.
This presentation was part of the 4th Annual Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies “Ethics in Professional Practice” Conference at Endicott College in August of 2016.