Generality of preference assessments

Document Type

Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis

Date Completed

2016

First Committee Member

Bourret, Jason

Second Committee Member

Karsina, Allen

Third Committee Member

Karsten, Amanda

Abstract

"A variety of preference assessments are used in a clinical setting in identifying reinforcers to be used for skill acquisition or behavior management. There is an assumption that the most preferred item identified in a PS preference assessment holds the same reinforcing value when more effortful responses are required to access that reinforcer. In the current study, response requirements were systematically increased in the context of a paired- stimulus preference assessment. Preference hierarchies at different response requirements were identified to assess shifts in preference as price increased. We then fitted Hursh and Silberberg’s 2008 demand equation to these data in order to assess the change in consumption as a function of price for each available option. Results showed that preference hierarchies were consistent across response requirements; however, responding did not maintain at the higher prices. When the demand curve were fit to the data, results were varied due to a decrease in consumption of some items being a function of price."

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