On the role of preference in response competition.

William H. Ahearn, Kathy M. Clark, Ruth DeBar, & Christine Florentino (2005). On the role of preference in response competition. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 38, 247-250.

A duration-based preference assessment identified items that matched and did not match the sensory consequences hypothesized to maintain stereotypy. When evaluated in treatment, these items effectively competed with the occurrence of stereotypy, regardless of their sensory properties. It is suggested that relative preference, as measured in duration-based assessment, can be as significant as type of stimulation produced in interventions that reduce automatically reinforced problem behavior.

DESCRIPTORS: autism, automatic reinforcement, preference assessment, response competition