title: Correspondence between single versus daily preference assessment outcomes and reinforcer efficacy under progressive-ratio schedules.
abstract: Research has suggested that a daily multiple-stimulus-without-replacement (MSWO) preference assessment may be more sensitive to changes in preference than other assessment formats, thereby resulting in greater correspondence with reinforcer efficacy over time (DeLeon et al., 2001). However, most prior studies have measured reinforcer efficacy using rate of responding under single-operant arrangements and dense schedules or under concurrent-operants arrangements. An alternative measure of reinforcer efficacy involves the evaluation of responding under progressive-ratio (PR) schedules. In the present study, 7 participants were given a single paired-stimulus (PS) preference assessment followed by daily MSWO preference assessments. After each daily MSWO, participants responded for each stimulus on a PR schedule. The correspondence between break points and preferences, as assessed by the 2 assessment formats, was examined. Results demonstrated that both preference assessments did equally well at predicting reinforcer efficacy, although the PS more consistently identified the most effective reinforcer.
authors: Marcus Autism Center and Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, USA. nathan.call@choa.org
authors: Nathan A
authors: NA
authors: Call
authors: Nicole M
authors: NM
authors: Trosclair-Lasserre
authors: Addie J
authors: AJ
authors: Findley
authors: Andrea R
authors: AR
authors: Reavis
authors: M Alice
authors: MA
authors: Shillingsburg
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000523:psychology*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002755:Choice Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology
keywords: multiple stimulus without replacement; paired stimulus; preference assessment; progressive ratio