Combined-category preference assessments : do edible and leisure stimuli displace social interactions?

Document Type

Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis

Date Completed

2021

First Committee Member

Roscoe, Eileen

Second Committee Member

Bourret, Jason

Third Committee Member

Thompson, Rachel

Abstract

"Preference assessments that include combined-category stimulus arrays of edible and leisure stimuli can result in displacement effects, in which a stimulus that is identified as less preferred in a preference assessment is found to function as a reinforcer in a reinforcer assessment. However, it is unclear whether the inclusion of social interaction in combined-category arrays would result in displacement effects. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate potential displacement effects in combined-category stimulus arrays of edible, leisure, and social stimuli for two individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). First, single category pictorially based paired-stimulus preference assessments were implemented to identify highly preferred edible, leisure, and social stimuli. The top two ranked items from each category were then included in a subsequent combined-category preference assessment to evaluate potential displacement effects across stimulus categories. A concurrent operant reinforcer assessment was subsequently conducted to determine the relative and absolute reinforcing efficacy of each the highest ranked stimulus from each category. Although displacement effects were observed with both participants, the type and extent of the effect differed across participants."

This document is available upon request to Western New England University faculty, students, and staff. Please contact D'Amour Library at for access.

Share

COinS