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A PRACTICAL STRATEGY FOR ONGOING REINFORCER ASSESSMENT
Author(s) -
Mason Susan Ann,
McGee Gail G.,
FarmerDougan Valerie,
Risley Todd R.
Publication year - 1989
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.1989.22-171
Subject(s) - reinforcement , psychology , autism , developmental psychology , multiple baseline design , cognitive psychology , clinical psychology , social psychology , psychiatry , intervention (counseling)
There is a need for practical methods of reinforcer assessment that systematically track ongoing changes in clients' preferences. In this study, the effects of a time‐efficient reinforcer assessment package were evaluated in a multiple baseline across 3 preschoolers with autism, comparing individualized item selections by experienced teachers with children's presession preferences for items of various sensory qualities. Systematic assessment of children's reinforcers for correct responding virtually eliminated nontargeted maladaptive behaviors, as well as yielding expected improvements in accuracy. The powerful side‐effects of potent reinforcers underline the importance of increased attention to reinforcer assessment in research and practice.