Unit 3 Lecture Flashcards
*Operant Selection Review
-Process of repeated cycles of behavioral variability & modification of Bx by the env over the course of an individual’s lifetime
*Reinforcement Review
-An Env change that follows a response closely in time, is contingent on that response & increases the probability of similar responses under similar circumstances
*Positive Reinfrocement Review
-An env change in which as Appetitive Stimulus is added (presented) or magnified following a response, contingent on that response, that increases on that response, that increases the probability of similar responses under similar circumstances
*Appetitive Stimuli Review
- A stimulus that:
- Functions as positive Rx when presented contingent on a responses
- Functions as neg punishment when terminated contingent on a response
- Abates bx that has terminated it in the past
*Reinforcer Identification
2 steps
- Preference assessment
2. Reinforcer assessment
Preference Assessment (PA)
- Methods for identifying an individual’s preference for items and/ or activities that may function as reinforcers
- AKA stimulus preference assessment (SPA)
Preference Assessment Purpose
- Identify stimuli that may function as reinforcers
* Prediction: Higher preference stimuli —> More likely to function as effective reinforcers
Reinforcer Assessment Preview
*Variety of techniques to evaluate the effectiveness of stimulus as a reinforcer
Preference Assessment History
“Arbitrary” to topographical select
*No way to predict reinforcer efficacy
In a stimulus preference assessment we are trying to identify stimuli of this type:
a. Appetitive
b. Aversive
c. Positive
d. Neutral
a. Appetitive
In teaching new or replacement skills, behavior analysts often use positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement requires the use of stimuli described as “appetitive.” A preference assessment helps us identify these type of stimuli.
The purpose of stimulus preference assessments is to identify:
a. Preferred stimuli
b. Reinforcers
c. Both of these
a. Preference stimuli
2 Preliminary Assessment Categories
- Indirect preference assessment
* Direct naturalistic observation (duration-based)
Indirect Preference Assessment
*Informant-based assessment that provides info about an individual’s preference for tangible items and/ or activities
Indirect Preference Assessment methods
- General types:
- Interviews
- Checklists
- Rating scales
- Can be completed through:
- Self-report
- Caregiver nomination
Indirect Preference Assessment Example
- Reinforcer Assessment for individuals with severe Disabilities (RAISD)
- Interview tool
- Helps generate a list of potential preferred stimuli
- Caregiver indicates like/dislikes for client
- Stimuli ranked at End
Indirect preference assessments are __________-based assessments that provide information about an individual’s ___________ for tangible items and/or activities.
- Informant
- Preference
Which of these is NOT a type of indirect preference assessment?
a. Checklists
b. Rating scales
c. Verbal self-reports
d. All of these are types
d. All of these are types
Interviews and questionnaires can be conducted as:
a. Self-report
b. Caregiver nomination
c. Both
c. Both
An indirect preference assessment should also identify items that the client or caregiver would prefer NOT to use in treatment.
a. True
b. False
a. True
Indirect Preference Assessment Advantages
-Simple
-Efficient
-Narrows the field
‘May improve efficiency down the line
-Can give info about ecological fit
Indirect Preference Assessment Limitations
- Subjective
- Unreliable
- Self-report requires prerequisite vocal verbal skills
Indirect Preference Assessment Conclusions
- Shown to be unreliable alone but …..
- Shown be used as a First step!
The best use of indirect preference assessments is:
a. To determine what to use as reinforcers
b. To identify a caregiver’s preferences
c. As a first step in the identification of preferred items
d. All of these are correct
c. As a first step in the identification of preferred items
Premack Principle Preview
“States that making the opportunity to engage in a bx that occurs at a relatively high free operant (or baseline) rate contingent on the occurrence of low-fro bx will function as RX for the low-occurrence Bx”
Naturalistic Observation
*Duration-based direct observation used to identity preferred stimuli in which the primary measures is the amount of time an individual engages with stimuli in their natural env
Naturalistic Observations Steps
- Allow individual to have “Free Time” in the Env
* Take duration measure for interaction time with items/ activities
Naturalistic Observation Advantages
- Objective
- Does not require a verbal repertoire
- Less likely to produce prob bx as it does not require:
- The removal of stimuli
- Task engagement
Naturalistic Observation Limitations
- Time-consuming
- Potentially limited access to stimuli
When it comes to time, naturalistic observation is relatively _____.
-Time consuming
In addition to not evoking problem behavior, naturalistic assessments are advantageous for some individuals because they:
a. Are less likely to rain a side bias
b. Do not require a verbal repertoire
c. Take into account individual differences
d. Are subjective
b. Do not require a verbal repertoire
When conducting a naturalistic observation:
a. Always ensure items present are exactly as they occur naturally
b. It might be relevant to “plant” stimuli that could be preferred
b. It might be relevant to “plant” stimuli that could be preferred
Which measure is typically used for comparing relative preference for different stimuli and activities in a naturalistic observation?
a. Percent acceptance
b. Rank order
c. Duration of engagement
d. Latency to response
c. Duration of engagement
Direct Preference Assessment
*Observation-based (empirical) assessment that provides info about an individual’s preference for tangible items and/or activities
Direct Preference Assessment Methods
- Trial-based (selection-based)
- Single-stimulus
- Paired-stimulus
- Multiple-stimulus with replacement
- Multiple-stimulus without replacement
- Duration-based
- Free operant
- Single-item
Trial-Based Preference Assessment
*Direct preference assessment in which 1 or more items is/ are presented across trials & approach, contract or engagement is measured
Types of Trial-Based Preference Assessments
-Single-stimulus
-Paired-stimulus
-Multiple-stimulus
‘With replacement
“Without replacement
Direct preference assessments are ___________ assessments that provide information about an individual’s preference for tangible items and/or activities.
*Observation-based or Empirical
Select all the trial-based preference assessments:
(check all that apply)
a. Single-stimulus
b. Free operant
c. Single-item
d. Paired-stimulus
e. Multiple-stimulus with replacement
f. Multiple-stimulus without replacement
a. Single-stimulus
d. Paired-stimulus
e. Multiple-stimulus with replacement
f. Multiple-stimulus without replacement
Another name for trial-based preference assessments is -based.
-Selection based
Direct preference assessments include:
a. Asking the client directly for their preferences
b. Observing the client’s Bx
c. Directing the client to accept the preferences of peers
b. Observing the client’s Bx
Single-Stimulus (SS) Preference Assessment
- Direct preference assessment methodology in which a Single Item is presented for a period of time & approach, contact or engagement with the item is measured
- AKA successive choice, single-stimulus engagement or single-item assessment
Before the Assessment
- Select items for inclusions
- Set up for the session
- Allow pre-session sampling
Single-Stimulus Preference Assessment Procedure
- Present 1 item @ a time, random order
- Wait for approach then allow access
‘No approach: Remove item - Record data
- Start next trial (typically 10 per item)
In an SS preference assessment, items are placed in front of the individual:
a. One at a time
b. In pairs
c. In sets of 3 or more
d. In varying numbers depending on the number of items being assessed
a. One at a time
What is recommended regarding pre-session sampling (access to items prior to direct assessment)?
a. Do not permit sampling, as this may sway selection
b. Sampling maybe helpful, permitting clients to experience the stimulus before selection
b. Sampling maybe helpful, permitting clients to experience the stimulus before selection
Pace et al. (1985)
- Purpose: To demonstrate 2-stage methods for identifying reinforcers
1) Assessment of stimulus preference
2) Evaluation of RX effects
Why was the Pace study so important?
-Previously, reinforcers were selected somewhat arbitrarily or by preference assessment alone
The data from the Pace study show that most clients preferred the same items.
a. True
b. False
b. False
What assumptions were made regarding approach in the Pace study?
-Approach was assumed to indicate preference
What conclusions can be drawn from measures of approach in study 1?
-Preference was idiosyncratic
Single-Stimulus PA Advantages
- Simple
- Does not require individual to select btw stimuli
- Can identify multiple preferred stimuli
- Accommodates larger items/ activities
When to Use Single-Stimulus PA
*For individuals who have difficulty selecting btw stimuli
Single-Stimulus PA Limitations
- Undifferentiated approach- individuals may approach all/ most items
- Highly preferred items may not function as RX
- Stimuli have to be removed after each trial
Which of these is NOT a limitation of SS preference assessment methods?
-They are Subjective
Single-stimulus preference assessments are best for individuals:
*Who have difficulty selecting btw stimuli
Rationale for Another Approach
- Single-stimulus PA has Limitations:
- Undifferentiated approach-individuals are likely to approach all/ most items
Paired-Stimulus (PS) Preference Assessment
- Direct trial-based preference assessment in which stimuli are presented in pairs & approach responses are recorded
- AKA paired-choice, forced-choice (not the best term)
Paired-Stimulus PA
- Stimuli presented in pairs
- Each item paired once with every other item
Before the Assessment
- Select items for inclusions
- Set up for the session
- Determine trials and pairs
- Data sheet
- Allow pre-session sampling
Determining Number of Trials
- # Trials = n(n-1)/ 2
- n =total # of stimuli included
- e.g. for 5 stimuli: 5(4)/ 2 = 10 trials
Determine Pairings & Placement
- Each item paired once with every other item (all pairwise permutations)
- Each item needs to be on the right vs. left an equal # of times
The “paired” in paired-stimulus approach refers to what?
a. Items should have already undergone the SS pairing of respondent conditioning
b. Items are presented two at a time
b. Items are presented two at a time
Andy is getting ready to conduct a PS preference assessment with six items. How many trials will Andy need to run?
a. 1
b. 6
c. 12
d. 15
d. 15
The formula for determining the minimum number of trials is: n (n-1)/2, so the number of trials for six items would be calculated as such: 6(5)/2 = 15.
What is the rationale for the development of the paired-stimulus approach?
-In a single-stimulus format, we may see undifferentiated approach (individuals select any stimulus placed in front of them)
Pre-planning paired-stimulus preference assessments helps ensure:
a. Each item is compared to all other stimuli, presented an equal # of times & balanced across sides
b. Latency to selection will be minimized
c. Info from an indirect assessment is valid
a. Each item is compared to all other stimuli, presented an equal # of times & balanced across sides
Paired-Stimulus Preference Assessment Procedure
- Presented two items
- Wait for approach then allow access to selected item, remove other item
- No approach: Remove items & represent
- Attempt to select both: Block assess - Record data
- Start next trial
In a paired-stimulus preference assessment, stimuli are placed in front of the individual:
a. Equidistant
b. One closer than the other
c. At random locations each time
a. Equidistant
Fisher et al. (1992)
*Purpose: To compare single-stimulus & paired-stimulus PA procedures
Fisher et al. (1992)
*Demonstrated that paired-stimulus preference assessment produced more sensitive hierarchies & are more sensitive to relative reinforcer efficacy
The results of the paired-stimulus preference assessment in the Fisher study indicate that:
a. There was greater differentiation in approach as compared to the SS
b. There were more false positives than the SS approach
c. Some subjects showed uniformly high approach in the PS assessment
d. There were many trials with no selection
a. There was greater differentiation in approach as compared to the SS
The results of the Fisher study provided evidence of what?
a. Single-stimulus is more sensitive than paired stimulus
b. Free operant is more sensitive than single-stimulus
c. Paired-stimulus is more sensitive than single-stimulus
c. Paired-stimulus is more sensitive than single-stimulus
Paired-Stimulus PA: Results and Data
- Calculating preference hierarchy:
- (approaches/ trials presented) 100
- Graphed using Bar Graph
- X-axis: Stimuli
- Y-axis: % selection
Paired-Stimulus PA advantages
- More sensitive than single-stimulus PA methodology
* Likely to identify multiple potential reinforcers by establishing a hierarchy
Paried-Stimulus PA Limitations
- Prone to false neg
- Time-consuming
- Stimuli are taken after access
- Possible position biases
When calculating the percent selected, we divide the number of times selected by what?
a. Total number of trials with all stimuli
b. Total number of trials when the specific stimulus was available
b. Total number of trials when the specific stimulus was available
A paired-stimulus assessment was conducted with five items. Popcorn was selected two times. What is the percent selected? (approaches/trials presented)
a. 20% (2/10 x 100)
b. 40% (2/5 x 100)
c. 50% (2/4 x 100)
d. 60% (6/10 x 100)
c. 50% (2/4 x 100)
Position Bias
- Evident when the selection of stimuli in a preference assessment is controlled by location rather than the items themselves
- AKA Side Bias
Position Bias (Con….td)
- Individual commonly selects item on 1 side
- Often corresponds to hand dominance
- Evidence by flat distribution (i.e. everything selected 50% of the time)
Bourret et al. (2012)
- 5 participants (autism or DD)
- All showed position bias during paired-stimulus assessment
- 3 Interventions:
- Stimulus quality training
- Stimulus magnitude training
- Magnitude training plus error correction
Bouret et al. (2012)
- Quality training
- Choice btw known nonpreferred & other stimulus
- Magnitude training:
- One option greater (5x) than other
- Magnitude training + Error correction
- Selection of smaller magnitude = block & re-presentation of trial
Position bias means that an individual:
a. Holds their body in a specific position
b. Selects items placed on a particular side/ location
c. Chooses items placed only to their right
d. Selects items based on social significance
b. Selects items placed on a particular side/ location
Mitigating Position Bias
- Change to vertical placement of stimuli
- Hold stimuli directly in from t of the participant
- Place items in opposite corners of the rom & have the participant walk to the selected item
Position bias can be mitigated by:
a. Quality training
b. Magnitude training
c. Magnitude training plus punishment
d. Placing items in opposite corners of the room
e. Holding items directly in front of the individual
a. Quality training
b. Magnitude training
d. Placing items in opposite corners of the room
e. Holding items directly in front of the individual
What should be done if attempts to mitigate or correct position bias are unsuccessful?
a. Rely on indirect assessments
b. Select items based on ease of use
c. Use another assessment method, such as single-stimulus or free operant
c. Use another assessment method, such as single-stimulus or free operant