Replacement Preference Assessment Research Articles

Evaluating preference displacement of edible stimuli and social interactions for typically developing preschool children

AbstractEdible and leisure items are often used in behavioral intervention to teach skills or reduce problem behavior. Social interactions, however, have also been shown to function as reinforcers for both typically developing children and children diagnosed with autism. Previous research has been conducted investigating preference displacement between edible, leisure and social items. The current study included edible stimuli and social interactions to evaluate whether patterns of displacement would appear with typically developing children. Multiple stimulus without replacement preference assessments were conducted to identify highly preferred stimuli from both edible item and social interaction classes to use in combined assessments to evaluate displacement. Three of six participants showed complete displacement of social interactions by edible items and three participants showed patterns of partial displacement. Two of the participants demonstrating patterns of partial displacement showed a disproportionate preference for social interactions.

Evaluating convergent validity between RAISD and MSWO rankings across informants

AbstractThe Reinforcer Assessment for Individuals with Severe Disabilities (RAISD) and multiple‐stimulus without replacement preference assessment (MSWO) are evidence‐based tools used to determine preferences indirectly through interview and observation of choice making, respectively. Often, the RAISD is used to inform the stimulus array of the MSWO. However, reports frequently vary between informants. This can lead to discrepant identification of putative reinforcers and therefore has the potential for weaker or ineffective reinforcement‐based treatments. The purpose of this study was to compare RAISD and MSWO outcomes across informants (adolescent, caregiver, and teacher) and evaluate the convergent validity between the two measures. The results indicated that across participants, RAISD and MSWO results rarely produced convergent validity. Implications for practitioners and researchers are discussed.

Evaluating the number of sessions in multiple stimulus without replacement preference assessments for social interaction.

Evaluating the number of sessions in multiple stimulus without replacement preference assessments for social interaction.

An examination of stimulus technology level and preference displacement during multiple stimulus without replacement preference assessments

AbstractResearchers have observed that preference for edible items may displace preference for leisure items when items from the stimulus classes are assessed together within multiple stimulus without replacement (MSWO) preference assessments. The current study extends previous research by examining patterns of preference and displacement when assessing preference for high‐tech and low‐tech leisure items. We conducted three separate MSWO preference assessments; one assessing low‐tech items, another assessing high‐tech items, and a combined assessment (using the top four high‐ and low‐tech items from the previous assessments) to test for displacement. Preference for high‐tech items fully or partially displaced preference for low‐tech items in five of eight participants. We then conducted concurrent and single operant reinforcer assessments using the highly preferred high‐tech and low‐tech items. Reinforcer assessment results demonstrated similar levels of responding for the highest preferred high‐tech and low‐tech items, indicating that combining high‐ and low‐tech items within preference assessments may influence the validity of results.

Analysis of four measures of positional bias within a multiple stimulus without replacement preference assessment

AbstractPositional bias is a pattern of responding to a specific location that can be influenced by response effort and/or prior learning history. Prior research on positional bias within stimulus preference assessments have focused primarily on its use in paired stimulus assessments due to the complex nature of the multiple stimulus without replacement (MSWO) preference assessment. The present study is a secondary data analysis that utilized four different methods to measure side and center bias in a MSWO preference assessment for 19 young children with autism spectrum disorder. Participants displayed varying degrees of biased responding but collectively engaged in minimal biased responding. This study includes an analysis of the four methodologies, discussion of general patterns of responding, and general recommendations for the application of these methodologies in future research.

The Effects of Email Performance-Based Feedback on Teacher Candidate Implementation of a Multiple Stimulus Without Replacement Preference Assessment.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10864-022-09496-z.

A multiple-stimulus-without-replacement assessment for sexual partners: Test-retest stability.

The stability of stimulus preference assessment results is an important consideration when using the identified stimuli in treatments and/or additional experiments. Prior research has demonstrated that the preference hierarchies identified by the multiple stimulus without replacement (MSWO) preference assessment are generally stable over time. This stability has been demonstrated with tangible and edible items, yet the extent to which that stability can be expected for other types of stimuli remains unknown. The current study tested the 2-month stability of the MSWO preference assessment in the context of college students' preferred sexual partners. Adequate stability was shown in most cases, suggesting generality of the stability of preference across tasks, populations, and stimuli.

Do persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities prefer to save the best for last in an MSWO? A preliminary investigation

AbstractThe multiple stimulus without replacement (MSWO) preference assessment is commonly used to identify potential reinforcers. In this arrangement, individuals can choose the order in which they consume edibles or activities. The item selected first is often designated the highest preferred, and the item selected last is often designated the least preferred. Scattered reports suggest that some individuals may save the best for last in an MSWO. Despite these reports, few systematic evaluations of “saving the best for last” in the MSWO have been conducted. We examined this phenomenon using an MSWO and progressive‐ratio‐reinforcer assessment. Evidence of “saving the best for last” was obtained for one of four individuals across assessments involving edibles and leisure activities, respectively.

The Effects of Behavioral Skills Training on Staff Implementation of Multiple Stimulus without Replacement Preference Assessment

In this study, three special education teachers were trained to evaluate preferences without alternative multiple stimulus in 10 children with special needs using a multiple baseline across subjects experimental design and behavioral skills training program. The results showed that the behavioral skill training significantly improved the accuracy of the three special education teachers' preference assessment procedures, and the skill was generalized in the preference assessment of other special children.

Multiple Stimulus Without Replacement Preference Assessment for Students With Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

Students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) generally have behavior support plans that are based on a functional behavioral assessment. This article provides educators practical guidelines for conducting a multiple stimulus without replacement (MSWO) preference assessment to rank order preferred activities that will align with the function of behavior for use in behavioral interventions. The use of highly preferred reinforcers to reduce student problem behaviors can enhance educational outcomes for the student.

Comparison of Paired- and Multiple-Stimulus Preference Assessments using a Runway Task by Dogs

Preference assessments identify foods that might be valued by an animal but do not capture differences in the magnitude of value. In combination with demand, the more effort required to acquire the commodity – the more valued and likely it is to function as an effective reinforcer for use in dog training. In the current experiment, two preference assessments' applicability was measured using a combination of choice assessment and effortful runway task. Eight dogs experienced a paired stimulus preference assessment and multiple stimulus without replacement preference assessments combined with a 3-m runway task. The preference assessments identified different most-preferred foods, but the same least-preferred foods. The reinforcer assessment results showed that the dogs moved faster to obtain their most preferred food as identified by the multiple stimulus without replacement assessment compared to the most preferred foods identified in the paired stimulus assessment. The paired- or multiple-stimulus-without-replacement preference assessments identified highly valued foods; however, the applicability of that commodity as a reinforcer was not independent of the assessment method. To ensure accurate reinforcer identification and consistency, a preference assessment should be conducted under similar conditions to that experienced when the reinforcer is used in training. Overall, the multiple stimulus without replacement preference assessment would be more useful to trainers, owners or scientists wanting to identify high-value foods for their animals to function as effective reinforcers for the elicitation of behaviors in a training context.

A replication of preference displacement research in children with autism spectrum disorder.

The purpose of this paper was to replicate previous research on preference displacement with edible and leisure stimuli. In the present study, the experimenters evaluated preference displacement in 25 children with autism spectrum disorder using combined multiple stimulus without replacement preference assessments that consisted of highly preferred edible and leisure stimuli. In addition, the experimenters used a block randomization procedure to evaluate if assessment order influenced displacement outcomes. The experimenters observed patterns of complete displacement by edible stimuli for four participants and complete displacement by leisure stimuli for two participants; assessment order did not influence outcomes. The results and implications are discussed.

The effects of video modeling on staff implementation of behavioral procedures in China

AbstractThe purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a video modeling (VM) procedure at teaching three staff members who were working with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to implement a token economy, use an error correction procedure, and conduct a multiple stimulus without replacement preference assessment. The study was conducted at a summer camp for children with ASD located on a university campus and at a school for students with special needs in mainland China. All participants successfully generalized instructional skills learned during the VM intervention to sessions with children with ASD. Maintenance of instructional skills was also seen during follow‐up. These results indicate VM to be an economical and effective approach to training staff to implement various behavioral strategies. Moreover, the validity of VM as an effective intervention for staff training is increased by inclusion of blind ratings by five Board Certified Behavior Analysts.

Validity of the multiple-stimulus without replacement preference assessment for edible items.

Studies have shown that the multiple-stimulus without replacement (MSWO) preference assessment is an effective assessment format for identifying preferred items. However, it is possible that factors other than reinforcer quality might influence selections by some individuals when the MSWO array consists of edible items. The validity of the MSWO results was evaluated by comparing items identified as most and least preferred by the MSWO assessment in a concurrent-schedule (CS) format. Varying edible items were used in each study. The MSWO format accurately identified the higher quality edible item for most participants across studies (76%); however, the MSWO format did not predict the highest quality edible item in the CS assessment for 20% to 30% of participants in each study.

A comparison of methods for assessing preference for social interactions.

Researchers have evaluated a variety of methods for assessing preference for social interactions, and generally have found that such assessments accurately identify differentially reinforcing, preferred interactions. However, few researchers have compared methods for assessing preference for social interactions, and none have done so with participants across different skill levels. The current study compared the stability and validity of hierarchies produced by social interaction preference assessments (SIPA) and picture-based multiple stimulus without replacement preference assessments (MSWO) with 8 individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The MSWO most often produced valid hierarchies for participants who could match, identify, and tact pictures of social interactions and that the SIPA most often produced valid hierarchies for participants who could not identify or tact pictures of social interactions. A vocal paired-stimulus preference assessment (PSPA) was also conducted with a subset of participants who communicated vocally, and it produced valid hierarchies. Considerations and recommendations for selecting a method of assessing preference for social interactions are discussed.

Treatment of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder for a teenager with typical development within the home setting

IntroductionAvoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) can occur in children with typical development and persist past childhood. This significantly impacts most areas of children's lives, but may become more evident in teenage years, especially socially. There is an empirically supported treatment for ARFID with 40 years of research backing, this being behaviour-analytic feeding interventions. However, application to individuals over age 12 is lacking, and needs to be investigated for effectiveness. This is important as the addition of ARFID (formerly called feeding disorders) to the DSM-V has seen an increase in new treatments for ARFID by attempting to apply eating disorder treatments to this population including children. More research is needed to identify if already established behavioural intervention procedures are effective for ARFID in individuals with selectivity, without disabilities, older ages, and in settings outside of intensive specialised feeding hospital admissions in the United States. MethodA 13-year-old female with ARFID and years of failed treatment attempts participated in her home in Australia. We conducted multiple stimulus without replacement preference assessments and used a changing criterion design with multiple baseline probes. Treatment consisted of demand fading, choice, differential attention, and contingent access. We did not use cognitive or family based treatment. ResultsConsumption increased to 100%. Variety reached 61 foods across all food groups. She met 100% of goals and ate at a restaurant. Caregivers reported high satisfaction and social acceptability. Gains were maintained at 9 months. ConclusionThis brief, behaviour-analytic in-home treatment was effective in increasing food group variety consumption.

Preference Stability Across Assessment Methods and Stimulus Arrays

Preference Stability Across Assessment Methods and Stimulus Arrays

Using Pictures Depicting App Icons to Conduct an MSWO Preference Assessment on a Tablet Device.

Identifying preferred content on tablet devices may be important when using such devices in programming. This study included six adults with disabilities and examined using laminated picture cards depicting application (app) icons to conduct multiple-stimulus without replacement (MSWO) preference assessments of iPad content. Following identification of preference hierarchies, we conducted reinforcer assessments to validate preference assessment results by demonstrating that selected apps functioned as reinforcers. We identified preference hierarchies for all participants, and the highest preferred app functioned as a reinforcer for a vocational task in five out of six participants' reinforcer assessments.

Using common interests to increase socialization between children with autism and their peers

BackgroundThe social deficits associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are considered important targets for intervention due to their influence on long-term outcomes. In the present study, we assessed whether identifying and incorporating common interests of children with ASD and their typically developing peers would result in increases in social engagement and initiations. MethodThree children diagnosed with ASD were paired with three typically developing peers for the study. A separate multiple stimulus without replacement (MSWO) preference assessment was conducted for the child with ASD and the peer during the treatment to match interests. Data were collected on social engagement and initiations. A concurrent multiple probe design across participants was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment. ResultsResults showed that the intervention produced rapid increases in social engagement and initiations for all participants, without any direct social skill training. These results were also maintained during the follow-up session. Two out of the three participants showed generalization of skills to the natural environment wherein common interests were not incorporated. ConclusionsOur findings suggest that environmental manipulations in the form of incorporating choices of stimuli can increase socialization and generalization of skills. The treatment was effective at increasing social engagement without any intensive prompting for the participants of the study.

Examining a Web-Based Procedure for Assessing Preference for Videos.

A web-based program was developed to conduct brief multiple-stimulus without replacement preference assessments for videos (e.g., movies, cartoons, music videos). The preference assessment program was used with two populations: young adults with developmental disabilities and school-age children with emotional and behavioral needs. Stimulus preference hierarchies were identified for all participants, indicating that a web-based preference assessment procedure is an efficient procedure for isolating highly preferred videos, which might be useful as reinforcers in a variety of settings.