title: Using Conditional Percentages During Free-Operant Stimulus Preference Assessments to Predict the Effects of Preferred Items on Stereotypy: Preliminary Findings.
abstract: To date, researchers have not identified an efficient methodology for selecting items that will compete with automatically reinforced behavior. In the present study, we identified high preference, high stereotypy (HP-HS), high preference, low stereotypy (HP-LS), low preference, high stereotypy (LP-HS), and low preference, low stereotypy (LP-LS) items based on response allocation to items and engagement in stereotypy during one to three, 30-min free-operant competing stimulus assessments (CSAs). The results showed that access to HP-LS items decreased stereotypy for all four participants; however, the results for other items were only predictive for one participant. Reanalysis of the CSA results revealed that the HP-LS item was typically identified by (a) the combined results of the first 10 min of the three 30-min assessments or (b) the results of one 30-min assessment. The clinical implications for the use of this method, as well as future directions for research, are briefly discussed.
authors.affiliation: St. Cloud State University, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Tyla M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Frewing
authors.affiliation: Auburn University, AL, USA jtr0014@auburn.edu.
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Rapp
authors.affiliation: St. Cloud State University, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Pastrana
mesh_terms: D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000523:psychology*; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D019956:Stereotypic Movement Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: automatically reinforced behavior; competing stimulus assessments; high competition; stereotypy