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An Analysis of the Effectiveness of Reinforcers Identified via Multiple-Stimulus Without Replacement Preference Assessments

Tullis, Christopher Aaron

Abstract Details

2012, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, EDU Physical Activity and Educational Services.
Preference assessment methodologies have been demonstrated to effectively identify reinforcers for individuals with moderate to intensive disabilities, but the primary method of validating assessment outcomes has been to measure the occurrence of a simple operant response (e.g., card exchange). The effectiveness of a stimulus to function as a reinforcer for a simple operant response may not generalize to more complex responses (e.g., dressing). This investigation presents an exploration of the reinforcing effectiveness of stimuli identified using a preference assessment in basic and complex arrangements for three adolescent males with moderate to intensive disabilities. An MSWO was conducted to identify high- (HP) and low-preference (LP) stimuli. Next, a basic reinforcer assessment was used to determine if the identified HP and LP stimuli functioned as reinforcers with a simple operant response (i.e., card exchange). The item identified as a reinforcer with a simple operant response was then tested using a complex operant response (i.e., discrimination). Data indicated that for one participant, the items identified as HP were not reinforcers under either basic or complex arrangements. For one participant, the HP item was a reinforcer in the basic assessment, but not in the complex assessment. For the last participant, the item identified as a reinforcer maintained effectiveness under both basic and complex assessments.
Helen Cannella-Malone, PhD (Committee Chair)
Dianne Sainato, PhD (Committee Member)
Sheila Alber-Morgan, PhD (Committee Member)
Lawrence Kirschner, MD, PhD (Committee Member)
133 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Tullis, C. A. (2012). An Analysis of the Effectiveness of Reinforcers Identified via Multiple-Stimulus Without Replacement Preference Assessments [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1342206856

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Tullis, Christopher. An Analysis of the Effectiveness of Reinforcers Identified via Multiple-Stimulus Without Replacement Preference Assessments. 2012. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1342206856.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Tullis, Christopher. "An Analysis of the Effectiveness of Reinforcers Identified via Multiple-Stimulus Without Replacement Preference Assessments." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1342206856

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)