INTEGRATING CAREGIVER REPORT WITH A SYSTEMATIC CHOICE ASSESSMENT TO ENHANCE REINFORCER IDENTIFICATION

To determine client preferences, we asked caregivers to rank-order, ac cording to predicted client preference, a standard list of items and a list generated using a structured interview for caregivers, the Reinf orcer Assessment for Individuals with Severe Disabilities. Systematic choice assessments were then conducted with both sets of stimuli. A co ncurrent operants paradigm was used to compare the reinforcing effects of the highest preference stimulus identified from each list. Results indicated that caregiver predictions of client preferences were sligh tly better for the set of stimuli they generated than for the standard set, and the choice assessment identified more potent reinforcers fro m the set of stimuli generated by the caregivers than from the standar d set.