title: The impact of high- and low-preference stimuli on vocational and academic performances of youths with severe disabilities.
abstract: Pictorial and tangible paired-stimulus preference assessments were compared with 4 adolescents with developmental disabilities. In the tangible assessment, two stimuli were placed in front of the participant on each trial; in the pictorial assessment, two line drawings were placed in front of the participant on each trial. Approach responses were recorded for each assessment. The assessments generated similar preference hierarchies for all participants. Reinforcer assessments confirmed that response rates were higher when access to high-preference items was available than when low-preference items were available. Implications for assessing preferences and selecting items to be used in training programs are discussed.
authors.affiliation: New England Center for Children, 33 Turnpike Road, Southborough, Massachusetts 01772, USA. rgraff@necc.org
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Graff
authors.forename: Lenwood
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: G Tracey
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Galiatsatos
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001321:Autistic Disorder; D002755:Choice Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index