On the displacement of leisure items by food during multiple-stimulus preference assessments

Previous studies have demonstrated that when food and leisure stimuli are c ombined in multiple-stimulus preference assessments, individuals typically select food more often, although the leisure stimuli also have known reinfo rcing properties. The purpose of the current study was to replicate this ef fect. and determine its durability by examining the effect after mealtimes. Four adults who had been diagnosed with severe mental retardation were giv en three initial multiple-stimulus (without replacement) preference assessm ents (i.e., food, leisure stimuli, and combined). All participants selected food items as the most preferred stimuli in the combined assessments. Comb ined assessments were then administered immediately before and after the ev ening meal for each participant for 1 week. The results showed similar data both before and after mealtimes.