Contextualizing Contemporary Research Ethics Policies and Practices in Significant Historical Events

Abstract

The Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts (BACB Code; Behavior Analyst Certification Board®, 2020) includes six items in “Section 6—Responsibility in Research'' that cover the protection of human participants in research activities conducted by Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts® and Board Certified Behavior Analysts®. This article provides a brief primer regarding significant historical events and foundational documents that have resulted in the contemporary research ethics policies and practices in the field of behavior analysis. This walk through the last century from the Nuremberg Code to the Declaration of Helsinki, the Belmont Report, and 45 CFR Part 46—Protection of Human Subjects provides a summary of why the codification of requirements such as “informed consent” and “Institutional Review Board” oversight was necessary. The linkages between these historical events and the current BACB Code items are discussed. In addition, situations in which the BACB Code does not provide explicit instruction but foundational documents may provide additional guidance are considered. Finally, opportunities for future data-driven decision making in research ethics are offered.