Bojak, S. L., & Carr, J. E. (1999).
On the displacement of leisure items by food during multiple-stimulus preference assessments.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
32, 515-518.
Previous studies have demonstrated that when food and leisure
stimuli are combined in multiple-stimulus preference assessments,
individuals typically select food more often, although the
leisure stimuli also have known reinforcing properties. The
purpose of the current study was to replicate this effect and
determine its durability by examining the effect after mealtimes.
Four adults who had been diagnosed with severe mental retardation
were given three initial multiple-stimulus (without replacement)
preference assessments (i.e., food, leisure stimuli, and
combined). All participants selected food items as the most
preferred stimuli in the combined assessments. Combined
assessments were then administered immediately before and after
the evening meal for each participant for 1 week. The results
showed similar data both before and after mealtimes.
DESCRIPTORS: stimulus preference, assessment, establishing
operations, developmental disabilities