Utility of Formal Preference Assessments for Individuals Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Justin B. Leaf, Ronald Leaf, Aditt Alacalay Jeremy A. Leaf, Daniel Ravid, Stephanie Dale, Alyne Kassardjian, Kathleen Tsuji, Mitchell Taubman, John McEachin, and Misty Oppenheim-Lea
Abstract: The systematic use of reinforcers is an essential component of behavioral intervention for individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Today the use of rigorous formal preference assessments determination including paired-preference assessments are widely conducted to help determine which items to use as reinforcers during intervention. Although paired-preference assessments are widely used there is no experimental evidence whether extensive advance sampling actually produces higher rates of responding compared to in-the-moment analysis of reinforcer effects. The present study compared the rate of responding on a simple sorting task when participants were provided items that were determined as preferred during an extensive paired preference assessment to a teacher selecting items without the use of a paired preference assessment but rather with an in-the-moment analysis of reinforcer effects. The results indicated no clear difference in the rate of responding, but there were clear differences in terms of efficiency. Clinical implications will be discussed.