Hanley, G. P., Iwata, B. A., Roscoe, E. M., Thompson, R. H., & Lindberg, J. S. (2003).
Response-restriction analysis: II. Alteration of activity preferences.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
36, 59-76.
We used response-restriction (RR) assessments to identify the
preferences of 7 individuals with mental retardation for a
variety of vocational and leisure activities. We subsequently
increased their engagement in nonpreferred activities using
several procedures: response restriction per se versus a
Premack-type contingency (Study 1), supplemental reinforcement
for engagement in target activities (Study 2), and noncontingent
pairing of reinforcers with nonpreferred activities (Study 3).
Results indicated that preferences are not immutable and can be
altered through a variety of relatively benign interventions and
that the results of RR assessments may be helpful in determining
which types of procedures may be most effective on an individual
basis.
DESCRIPTORS: _preference, reinforcer assessment, restriction,
contingency, Premack principle, differential reinforcement,
conditioning