E-4: Identify and comply with requirements for collecting, using, protecting, and disclosing confidential information ©
Our downloadable PDF review guides have an expanded Ethics section, including the full Ethics Code items, along with multiple ethical decision making models. Click here!
Want a self-paced video course that covers all the test content and more? Click here!
Target Terms: confidential information, protecting confidentiality
Definition: The rules and requirements regarding the protection of confidential information is found from the following sources: our Ethics Code, the laws that apply to where you practice (i.e. physical jurisdiction and practice setting), and the specific policies of your organization. We are not going to try to tell you the specifics of what applies to you. Make sure you are super familiar with the Ethics Code, and lean on your supervisors to make sure you fully understand the laws and regulations that apply to you.
Overall, think about going “above and beyond” when it comes to confidentiality. It’s not necessarily complicated. Think about how YOU like to have your private information handled.
Please note some super important FAQs about the Ethics part of the TCO:
Is the Ethics Code part of the Task List or Test Content Outline? Well..not really. Unlike the rest of the TCO, which is its “own thing,” Part E is really a highlight reel of a separate and longer document. That document is called the Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts (link here). Remember that the TCO reflects the parts of the Ethics Code that will show up on the certification exam.
If I go through the TCO items in section E, do I really need to read the actual code? Seems long and boring. YES, you totally and absolutely DO need to read the entire Ethics Code for our profession. Prepping to be a professional is not just about passing a test.
How do I interpret the Ethics Code in specific situations? That’s not for us to tell you. The ethics sections were trickier for us to put together than the other items in the review section. That’s because the items having to do with the science of behavior are straightforward, in a factual sense. Ethics codes are subject to interpretation, cultural influence, and changes over time. We have done our best to help you understand without telling you what to think. Our best advice? Become familiar with ethical problem solving models, and talk to colleagues, supervisors, and mentors.