DeLeon, I. G., Iwata, B. A., & Roscoe, E. M. (1997).
Displacement of leisure reinforcers by food during preference assessments.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
30, 475-484.
Identification of reinforcers for individuals with developmental
disabilities is often based on the outcome of preference
assessments in which participants make selections from among a
variety of items. We determined the extent to which individuals
might show a general preference for food items over leisure items
during such assessments and whether leisure items that are
"displaced" by food items might nevertheless function
as reinforcers. Arrays consisting of food items only and then
nonfood items only were presented separately to 14 participants
and then were ranked to determine preference. The top selections
from these initial assessments were subsequently combined in a
third assessment, and preferences were again established. All but
2 participants showed a general preference for food items, such
that selection of nonfood items in the combined arrays was
displaced downward relative to selection of nonfoods in the
nonfood-only arrays. Two of the participants were exposed to a
condition in which a nonfood item was delivered contingent on the
occurrence of an adaptive response, and increased rates of
responding by both individuals were observed. Results are
discussed in terms of limitations posed by using only food items
as reinforcers and the resulting need to take precautionary
measures when attempting to identify nonfood reinforcers.
DESCRIPTORS: choice, preference, stimulus preference assessment