Unit 3 Flashcards
Identifying stimulus preference- caregiver/client report
most efficient, less time consuming
Identifying stimulus preference- RAISD
Reinforcer assessment for individuals with severe disabilities
Survey on Assessing Preferences (De Leon & Graff)
90% of all respondents only use informal assessments
99% of public school teachers only use informal
False positive
An item that is identified as a reinforcer that does not serve as a reinforcer
False negatives
False negatives: low preference items that do function as effective reinforcers
Rank order correlations
Rank Order Correlations
-1——————— 0 ———————–+1
-1: As one goes up, the other goes down
+1: As one goes up, the other goes up
0: No systematic relationship
Green et al 1988- caregiver report & informal assessment
+ Easiest (least labor intensive)
- Near zero correlations between staff predictions and individual preferences (based on single stimulus assessment)
Green et al. (1988)
•Paired-choice preference assessment
–when you need sensitive information on relative preferences among a large number of stimuli
–Most time consuming
–Likely to be most valid in predicting relative reinforcer value
–Most valid (according to DeLeon)
Single stimulus PA
•Single-stimulus preference assessment
–best suited for individuals with very limited abilities whom may have difficulty scanning arrays
Duration-based Preference Assessments
- Single-item presentation (how much time spent engaging when items are presented one at a time)
- Free operant assessment (how much time spent engaging with item in natural setting)
- Competing stimulus preference assessments (how much time spent engaging with item vs. engaging in problem behavior)
- Multiple stimulus duration-based methods likely to produce false negatives (i.e., subject interacts with some and not others)
Verifying Preferences
Verifying Preferences
•Conduct participant/caregiver interviews (e.g., RAISD)
•Conduct systematic preference assessment
•Identify discrepancies and conduct reinforcer assessment to identify which stimuli are more effective reinforcers
Reinforcer Assessments
- Preference assessments are purely predictive
- Preference assessments are conducted under extremely low effort requirements, often with simplistic responses
- Highly ranked preferences typically function effectively as reinforcers, but this should always be verified under conditions analogous to actual work arrangements
Reinforcer assessment method- SINGLE OPERANT
•Single operant- One reinforcer at a time for a response, compare rates of behavior w/reinforcer, useful for measuring absolute reinforcer strength
Reinforcer Assessment Methods- PROGRESSIVE RATIO
•Progressive-ratio- Reinforcement schedule in which the ratio requirements increase across successive “trials.” Session continues until the participant ceases to respond for predetermined amount of time (e.g., 5 min)
Reinforcer assessment methods- CONCURRENT SCHEDULES
•Concurrent schedule- two responses with different reinforcers in direct competition; useful for comparing relative reinforcer strength
Roscoe et al
Roscoe et al.
Generally, high, moderate, and low preference stimuli tend to have similarly ordered relative reinforcement rates, but absolute effects can be undifferentiated. That is, when stimuli are not competing against each other, they can be equally reinforcing.
Ex. Working for pay vs. working for beer
Progressive Ratio Schedules
Provide information about HOW MUCH an individual will work as opposed to rate-based assessments that measure HOW FAST
Break point: The highest schedule requirement completed before responding ceases for criterion time
Shifts in preferences
- Preferences are dynamic
- Changes in preferences often correspond to changes in reinforcer value
- Most highly preferred stimuli may be more stable
- Preferences for edible items tend to be more stable
Measuring the Effects of Choice on Responding- SINGLE OPERANT ARRANGEMENT
•Single Operant Arrangements: Measure absolute reinforcer effectiveness (Does this stimulus correspond to increases in responding?)
Measuring the Effects of choice on responding- CONCURRENT OPERANT ARRANGEMENT
•Concurrent Operant Arrangements: Measure relative reinforcer effectiveness and/or preference (Does this stimulus correspond to greater increases in responding than that stimulus?)
