Imagine a doctor gives you medicine based on a blood test they "guessed" at. If the test was wrong, the medicine won't work, and you might get sicker.

As an RBT, Data is your client's blood test. If you record unreliable data (guessing, skipping, or lying), the BCBA will prescribe the wrong treatment. This isn't just about paperwork—it's about the safety and progress of a human being.

Executive Summary

This video uses the story of an RBT named Bernice to show what happens when data collection fails. Because Bernice rushed and guessed her data, her client (Jacob) did not make progress, his parents lost trust, and the intervention failed. We learn that Reliability and Procedural Fidelity are the foundations of ethical ABA.

⏱️ Video Timeline

00:00

The Case of Bernice & Jacob
Bernice stops collecting real data and starts "guessing" because she is in a rush.

01:30

The Consequences
Jacob's progress stalls. Parents get frustrated. The supervisor cannot tell if the intervention is working.

02:54

Data Drives Decisions
BCBAs use data to master skills or change programs. If the data is wrong, the decision is wrong.

04:10

Procedural Fidelity
It's not just about tracking data; it's about following the plan exactly as written.

🔑 Key Insights

Delayed Progress: Without accurate data, we waste weeks or months on a treatment that isn't working.

Lost Trust: Once parents or supervisors catch you faking data, it is very hard to regain their trust.

Ethical Violation: Falsifying data is a direct violation of the RBT Ethics Code.

Procedural Fidelity: Doing the intervention correctly (the "How") is just as important as recording the result (the "What").

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What should I do if I forget to collect data?

A: Be Honest. Tell your supervisor, "I missed the data for this trial." Do NOT guess or make it up. Missing data is better than fake data.

Q: What is Procedural Fidelity?

A: It means: "Did you follow the instructions?" If the plan says "Give a token every 2 minutes" and you give it every 10 minutes, your fidelity is low.

1. The Chain Reaction of Bad Data

When an RBT guesses on data, it sets off a chain reaction that harms the client.

The Result

The client continues to struggle, but the "Data" says they are fine. This is dangerous.

2. Validity vs. Reliability vs. Accuracy

Validity: Measuring the right thing. (e.g., weighing yourself to see if you are tall. Invalid).

Reliability: Consistency. (e.g., If two RBTs watch the same behavior, do they get the same number?)

Accuracy: The true value. (e.g., The behavior happened 5 times, and you wrote "5".)

📝 Knowledge Check

Test your ethics.

Q1: You missed recording data for the first 10 minutes of a session. What should you do?

Answer: Leave it blank (and note why).
Never guess. It is better to have a gap in the data than false data.

Q2: Two RBTs watch the same behavior but get different counts. This is a problem with:

Answer: Reliability (IOA).
The data is not reliable because the observers are not consistent.

▶

Ethics Quiz

Mock Exam

Test your knowledge on data reliability and ethics.

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A.8 Risks of Unreliable Data