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EVALUATION OF A SELF‐INSTRUCTION PACKAGE FOR CONDUCTING STIMULUS PREFERENCE ASSESSMENTS
Author(s) -
Graff Richard B.,
Karsten Amanda M.
Publication year - 2012
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.2012.45-69
Subject(s) - jargon , psychology , dissemination , stimulus (psychology) , preference , multiple baseline design , stimulus control , computer science , cognitive psychology , neuroscience , telecommunications , philosophy , linguistics , psychiatry , economics , nicotine , microeconomics , intervention (counseling)
Research suggests that inexperienced individuals cannot accurately implement stimulus preference assessments given written instructions alone. Training that includes written instructions supplemented with feedback from a professional with expertise in conducting preference assessments has proven effective; unfortunately, expert‐facilitated direct training may not be widely available. In the current study, we used multiple baseline designs to evaluate the efficacy of an antecedent‐only self‐instructional package to train staff members to implement two methods of stimulus preference assessments. Accuracy was low when participants had access to written instructions alone. When access to enhanced written instructions was provided (i.e., technical jargon was minimized; instructions included pictures, diagrams, and step‐by‐step examples), inexperienced staff accurately implemented the assessments. Results are discussed in terms of opportunities to disseminate behavior‐analytic technologies through self‐instruction and print resources.