USING A CHOICE ASSESSMENT TO PREDICT REINFORCER EFFECTIVENESS

A choice assessment has been found to be a more accurate method of ide ntifying preferences than is single-item presentation. However, it is not clear whether the effectiveness of reinforcement varies positively with the degree of preference (i.e., whether the relative preference based on the results of a choice assessment predicts relative reinforc er effectiveness). In the current study, we attempted to address this question by categorizing stimuli as high, middle, and low preference b ased on the results of a choice assessment, and then comparing the rei nforcing effectiveness of these stimuli using a concurrent operants pa radigm. High-preference stimuli consistently functioned as reinforcers for all 4 clients. Middle-preference stimuli functioned as reinforcer s for 2 clients, but only when compared with low-preference stimuli. L ow-preference stimuli did not function as reinforcers when compared to high- and middle-preference stimuli. These results suggest that a cho ice assessment can be used to predict the relative reinforcing value o f various stimuli, which, in turn, may help to improve programs for cl ients with severe to profound disabilities.