Preference Assessment

Question 1

Does preference assessment tell us what reinforcer to use?

Answer 1

NO! A preference assessment doesn’t tell us whether something functions as reinforcer, just that client prefers over other choices

Question 2

The stimuli we use in interventions should have a high probability…

Answer 2

of functioning as a reinforcer

Question 3

What are the three most basic approach to identifying potential reinforcers?

Answer 3

Asking the client; observing behaviour; conducting assessments

Question 4

When asking, what should be used instead of open-ended questions?

Answer 4

Reinforcer surveys

Question 5

Give a limitation to asking client their preferred reinforcer

Answer 5

May not be able to speak; may not be able to remember what they’d like; may lead to unreasonable demands

Question 6

What previous results can we use to identify potential reinforcers?

Answer 6

FBA results

Question 7

Give three types of structured preference assessments

Answer 7

1) Single presentation 2) Paired/forced choice 3) Multiple presentation preference assessment

Question 8

Briefly outline the single presentation preference assessment procedure

Answer 8

Choose several potential reinforcers, display each item individually for limited time, note whether the person approaches the item, repeat process to gather enough data

Question 9

If the client doesn’t approach items during single presentation preference assessments you should…

Answer 9

prompt the person to sample the item

Question 10

You should only use sampling…

Answer 10

on the first presentation of the item

Question 11

If a selected item has no value as a reinforcer, you could…

Answer 11

replace the item with another item

Question 12

Once items in a single presentation preference assessment have been presented several times you can calculate…

Answer 12

the percentage of times client approached and duration of each interaction

Question 13

In single presentation preference assessment you should limit…

Answer 13

access to the item

Question 14

Briefly outline the paired choice preference assessment procedure

Answer 14

Choose several items; display two items simultaneously for a limited time; record the item chosen; randomly present items until all have been presented with one another

Question 15

What is another term for paired choice preference assessment?

Answer 15

Forced choice preference assessment

Question 16

If a client attempts to access more than one item you should…

Answer 16

block their attempts

Question 17

If during paired choice preference assessment no item is selected…

Answer 17

use sampling then present items again

Question 18

Why is paired choice preference assessment better than single presentation preference assessment?

Answer 18

Paired choice less likely to overestimate reinforcing effects of stimuli

Question 19

Briefly outline multiple presentation stimulus preference assessment procedure

Answer 19

Choose several items, present an array of items at once, record which items are chosen

Question 20

What are the two types of multiple presentation stimulus preference assessment?

Answer 20

1) With replacement (MS)

2) Without replacement (MSWO)

Question 21

Describe MS with replacement

Answer 21

Once an item has been selected it is put back into the selection

Question 22

Describe MSWO

Answer 22

Once an item has been selected it is removed from the selection and therefore no longer available

Question 23

Why is using MSWO usually better than using MS?

Answer 23

Multiple presentation stimulus preference produces a larger number of potential reinforcers

Question 24

Which, of all preference assessments, does research suggest is the most efficient?

Answer 24

Multiple presentation stimulus preference without replacement (MSWO)

Question 25

When might MS be better than MSWO?

Answer 25

When trying to identify one or two potent reinforcers

Question 26

What should follow preference assessments? Why?

Answer 26

Reinforcer assessments. Because the preference doesn’t tell us whether an item is reinforcing

Question 27

Remember: some stimuli are only reinforcing…

Answer 27

under certain conditions