Evaluating pictorial preference assessment: The effect of differential outcomes on preference assessment results

• Published in: Research in autism spectrum disorders Vol. 3; no. 1; pp. 113 - 128
• Main Authors: Groskreutz, Mark P., Graff, Richard B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Behavior Modification; Comparative Analysis; Evaluation Methods; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Pictorial preference assessment; Pictorial Stimuli; Positive Reinforcement; Preference assessment; Reinforcer assessment; Preference assessment; Pictorial preference assessment; Reinforcer assessment
• ISSN: 1750-9467; 1878-0237
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rasd.2008.04.007

Three formats for assessing preferences were examined, tangible, pictorial with access, and pictorial without access. Reinforcer assessments were conducted to verify reinforcer effects. Phase 1 examined the assessment formats in alternating blocks of trials. Phase 2 examined results of the entire pictorial without access condition administered first followed by the other formats. Results of Phase 1 indicate similar preference hierarchies for 4 out of 5 participants regardless of format. Phase 2 reinforcer assessment results indicate pictorial without access assessments may be accurate for some but not all participants when assessments are completed in their entirety. Results further indicate that pictorial without access assessments take the least amount of time to administer. Extension and application of these results are discussed.