title: A comparison of preference-assessment methods.
abstract: In Study 1, we evaluated preference stability across 4 preference-assessment methods for 6 individuals, 5 of whom had autism spectrum disorder and 1 of whom had traumatic brain injury. We also measured participants' problem behavior as a corollary measure during all assessment methods. The highest mean correlation coefficients and Kendall rank coefficients of concordance across administrations were observed for the paired-stimulus and multiple-stimulus-without-replacement methods. Lower correspondence across administrations was observed for the free-operant and response-restriction methods. Although differentially higher levels of problem behavior did not occur with a single method, lower levels were consistently observed with the free-operant method. During Study 2, we evaluated the implications of lower coefficients on reinforcer efficacy by comparing an initially identified and an immediately identified high-preference stimulus in a reinforcer assessment. Initially identified and immediately identified high-preference stimuli were equally effective reinforcers, suggesting that fluctuations in preference do not necessarily affect reinforcer efficacy in practice.
authors.affiliation: Western New England University and the New England Center for Children.
authors.forename: Amanda L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Verriden
authors.affiliation: Western New England University and the New England Center for Children.
authors.forename: Eileen M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Roscoe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002648:Child; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D000066553:Problem Behavior; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology
keywords: autism; preference assessment; preference stability; problem behavior; reinforcement