Premium
EVALUATION OF REINFORCER PREFERENCES FOR PROFOUNDLY HANDICAPPED STUDENTS
Author(s) -
Wacker David P.,
Berg Wendy K.,
Wiggins Barbara,
Muldoon Mary,
Cavanaugh Jack
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
journal of applied behavior analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1938-3703
pISSN - 0021-8855
DOI - 10.1901/jaba.1985.18-173
Subject(s) - reinforcement , psychology , multiple baseline design , duration (music) , developmental psychology , audiology , social psychology , intervention (counseling) , medicine , art , literature , psychiatry
Five students classified as profoundly/multiply handicapped were trained to use microswitches to indicate reinforcer preferences. The students were trained to emit a designated motoric response (raise arm or raise head) which in turn activated a microswitch. The microswitches were connected to battery‐operated toys and devices, and served to provide immediate, contingent consequences tothe students for their motoric responding. The results of the investigation were evaluated within a multiple baseline (across students) with alternating treatments (potential reinforcers) design. During baseline, the students were provided withthe switches and devices, butthe switches were not connected tothe devices. Duringthe training conditions, the switches activatedthe devices. Evaluation of the devices was conducted by recordingthe cumulative frequency and duration of the students' responses. Whenthe microswitches activatedthe devices during training, a substantial increase inthe duration of motoric responding occurred for all students. In addition, some students performed differentially across devices, suggesting that they had reinforcer preferences.