DeLeon, I. G., & Iwata, B. A. (1996).
Evaluation of a multiple-stimulus presentation format for assessing reinforcer preferences.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
29, 519-532.
We compared three methods for presenting stimuli during
reinforcer-preference assessments: a paired-stimulus format (PS),
a multiple-stimulus format in which selections were made with
replacement (MSW), and a multiple-stimulus format in which
selections were made without replacement (MSWO). Results obtained
for 7 participants showed moderate to high rank-order
correlations between the MSWO and PS procedures and a similar
number of identified reinforcers. In addition, the time to
administer the MSWO procedure was comparable to that required for
the MSW method and less than half that required to administer the
PS procedure. Subsequent tests of reinforcement effects revealed
that some stimuli selected in the PS and MSWO procedures, but not
selected in the MSW procedure, functioned as reinforcers for
arbitrary responses. These preliminary results suggest that the
multiple-stimulus procedure without replacement may share the
respective advantages of the other methods.
DESCRIPTORS: assessment, developmental disabilities, reinforcer
preference