Evaluation of some components of choice making

J Appl Behav Anal. 2013 Summer;46(2):455-64. doi: 10.1002/jaba.46. Epub 2013 May 20.

Abstract

Providing access to choice-making opportunities is a useful addition to behavioral interventions, although the critical features of choice making may differ greatly across individuals. In this study, results of an initial 3-choice concurrent-operants preference assessment with 4 subjects with autism spectrum disorder suggested that 2 subjects preferred the choice-making condition and participated in subsequent assessments to examine the potential influences of reinforcer variability and differential access to high-preference reinforcers on their preferences for choice making. Two other subjects did not prefer the choice-making condition and participated in subsequent assessments to explore conditions under which they might prefer choice-making opportunities. Results suggested that a wide range of variables influenced preference for choice-making conditions.

Keywords: choice; concurrent operants; reinforcers.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / psychology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Choice Behavior*
  • Conditioning, Operant*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Patient Preference / psychology