title: Validating predicted activity preferences of individuals with severe disabilities.
abstract: We examined the accuracy of 24 staff members' predictions of activities preferred by 14 individuals with severe disabilities. For each of 144 activities, staff members assigned a client preference rating of "likes a lot," "likes," or "dislikes." Two activities from each category were randomly selected for each individual with disabilities. Pairs of selected activities were presented to the individuals, who were prompted to choose an activity. Staff members' activity preference ratings correctly predicted the choices made by the individuals with disabilities for 78% of the trials. The more divergent the preference ratings of the paired activities, the more likely staff members were to predict correctly the activity selected by a participant.
authors.affiliation: Specialized Training Program, College of Education, University of Oregon, Eugene 97403-5215.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Ard
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Horner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003142:Communication; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D004495:Education of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D014705:Verbal Behavior