Skip to main content

Translational and Applied Choice Research

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Autism and Child Psychopathology Series ((ACPS))

Abstract

Basic research on choice responding has influenced applied research in many important ways; we highlights three such outgrowths in this chapter: (a) using choice preparations to predict high-quality reinforcers and activities to include in educational and habilitative programming, (b) understanding response allocation in multi-response environments (e.g., when will children choose to practice mathematics when the opportunity to play with their toys is available, or when a child with developmental disabilities will choose to engage in self-injurious behavior (SIB) to solicit attention rather than using a more socially appropriate communicative behavior), and (c) systematically providing access to a choice of stimuli or activities as reinforcers. This chapter focuses upon both current applied practice and the basic, applied, and translational research that has informed this area.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Note that Chap. 11 focuses exclusively on the assessment of stimulus preferences and reinforcer efficacy. Nevertheless, the importance of stimulus preference and reinforcer efficacy in the discussion of choice necessitates a brief commentary. See Chap. 11 for a more extensive review of stimulus preference and reinforcer assessments.

References

  • Bannerman, D. J., Sheldon, J. B., Sherman, J. A., & Harchik, A. E. (1990). Balancing the right to habilitation with the right to personal liberties: The rights of people with developmental disabilities to eat too many doughnuts and take a nap. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 23, 79–89.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baum, W. M. (1974). On two types of deviation from the matching law: Bias and undermatching. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 22, 231–242.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Borrero, J. C., & Vollmer, T. R. (2002). An application of the matching law to severe problem behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 35, 13–27. doi:10.1901/jaba.2002.35-13.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Borrero, J. C., Frank, M. A., & Hausman, N. L. (2008). Applications of the matching law. In W. O’Donohue & J. E. Fisher (Eds.), Cognitive behavior therapy: Applying empirically supported techniques in your practice (pp. 317–326). Hoboken: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Borrero, C. S., Vollmer, T. R., Borrero, J. C., Bourret, J. C., Sloman, K. N., Samaha, A. L., & Dallery, J. (2010). Concurrent reinforcement schedules for problem behavior and appropriate behavior: Experimental applications of the matching law. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 93, 455–469.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bowman, L. G., Piazza, C. C., Fisher, W. W., Hagopian, L. P., & Kogan, J. S. (1997). Assessment of preference for varied versus constant reinforcers. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 30, 451–458. doi:10.1901/jaba.1997.30-451.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brigham, T. A., & Sherman, J. A. (1973). Effects of choice and immediacy of reinforcement on single response and switching behavior of children. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 19, 425–435.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Call, N. A., Trosclair-Lasserre, N. M., Findley, A. J., Reavis, A. R., & Shillingsburg, M. A. (2012). Correspondence between single versus daily preference assessment outcomes and reinforcer efficacy under progressive-ratio schedules. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 45, 763–777. doi:10.1901/jaba.2012.45-763.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carr, J. E., Nicolson, A. C., & Higbee, T. S. (2000). Evaluation of a brief multiple-stimulus preference assessment in a naturalistic context. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 33, 353–357.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Catania, A. C., & Sagvolden, T. (1980). Preference for free choice over forced choice in pigeons. Journal of Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 34, 77–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cote, C. A., Thompson, R. H., Hanley, G. P., & McKerchar, P. M. (2007). Teacher report and direct assessment of preferences for identifying reinforcers for young children. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 40, 157–166. doi:10.1901/jaba.2007.40-157.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • DeLeon, I. G., & Iwata, B. A. (1996). Evaluation of a multiple-stimulus presentation format for assessing reinforcer preferences. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 29, 519–533. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1996.29-519.

    Google Scholar 

  • DiGennaro Reed, F. D., & Codding, R. S. (2014). Advancements in procedural fidelity assessment and intervention: Introduction to the special issue. Journal of Behavioral Education, 23, 1–18. doi:10.1007/s10864-013-9191-3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DiGennaro Reed, F. D., & Reed, D. D. (2014). Evaluating and improving intervention integrity. In J. K. Luiselli (Ed.), Children and youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD): Recent advances and innovations in assessment, education, and intervention. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dozier, C. L. (2013). On the concept of attention as a reinforcer for desirable behavior. Paper presented the annual meeting of the Mid-American Association for Behavior Analysis, Milwaukee, WI

    Google Scholar 

  • Dyer, K., Dunlap, G., & Winterling, V. (1990). The effects of choice-making on the problem behaviors of students with severe handicaps. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 23, 515–524.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Egel, A. L. (1981). Reinforcer variation: Implications for motivating developmentally disabled children. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 14, 345–350. doi:10.1901/jaba.1981.14-345.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, W., Piazza, C. C., Bowman, L. G., Hagopian, L. P., Owens, J. C., & Slevin, I. (1992). A comparison of two approaches for identifying reinforcers for persons with severe and profound disabilities. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 25, 491–498.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fryling, M. J., Wallace, M. D., & Yassine, J. N. (2012). Impact of treatment integrity on intervention effectiveness. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 45, 449–453. doi:10.1901/jaba.2012.45-449.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Geiger, K. B., LeBlanc, L. A., Dillon, C. M., & Bates, S. L. (2010). An evaluation of preference for video and in vivo modeling. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 43, 279–283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Graff, R. B., & Karsten, A. M. (2012). Evaluation of a self-instruction package for conducting stimulus preference assessments. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 45, 69–82. doi:10.1901/jaba.2012.45-69.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Green, C. W., Reid, D. H., White, L. K., Halford, R. C., Brittain, D. P., & Gardner, S. M. (1988). Identifying reinforcers for persons with profound handicaps: Staff opinion versus systematic assessment of preferences. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 21, 31–43. doi:10.1901/jaba.1988.21-31.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hanley, G. P., Iwata, B. A., & Lindberg, J. S. (1999). Analysis of activity preferences as a function of differential consequences. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 32, 419–435. doi:10.1901/jaba.1999.32-419.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hanley, G. P., Iwata, B. A., Lindberg, J. S., & Conners, J. (2003). Response-restriction analysis: I. Assessment of activity preferences. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 36, 47–58.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hanley, G. P., Piazza, C. C., Fisher, W. W., & Maglieri, K. A. (2005). On the effectiveness of and preference for punishment and extinction components of function-based interventions. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 38, 51–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanley, G. P., Iwata, B. A., & Roscoe, E. M. (2006). Some determinants of changes in preference over time. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 39, 189–202.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heal, N. A., & Hanley, G. P. (2007). Evaluating preschool children’s preferences for motivational systems during instruction. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 40, 249–261.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heal, N. A., & Hanley, G. P. (2011). Embedded prompting may function as embedded punishment: Detection of unexpected behavioral processes within a typical preschool teaching strategy. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 44, 127–131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heal, N. A., Hanley, G. P., & Layer, S. A. (2009). An evaluation of the relative efficacy of and children’s preferences for teaching strategies that differ in amount of teacher directedness. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 42, 123–143.

    Google Scholar 

  • Herrnstein, R. J. (1961). Relative and absolute strength of response as a function of frequency of reinforcement. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 4, 267–272.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Herrnstein, R. J. (1970). On the law of effect. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 13, 243–266.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Horner, R. H., & Day, H. M. (1991). The effects of response efficiency on functionally equivalent competing behaviors. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 24, 719–732.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horner, R. H., Sprague, J. R., O’Brien, M., & Heathfield, L. T. (1990). The role of response efficiency in the reduction of problem behaviors through functional equivalence training: A case study. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, 15, 91–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelley, M. E., Lerman, D. C., & Van Camp, C. M. (2002). The effects of competing reinforcement schedules on the acquisition of functional communication. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 35, 59–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koehler, L. J., Iwata, B. A., Roscoe, E. M., Rolider, N. U., & O’Steen, L. E. (2005). Effects of stimulus variation on the reinforcing capability of nonpreferred stimuli. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 38, 469–484.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lerman, D. C., Tetreault, A., Hovanetz, A., Strobel, M., & Garro, J. (2008). Further evaluation of a brief, intensive teacher-training model. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 41, 243–248. doi:10.1901/jaba.2008.41-243.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luczynski, K. C., & Hanley, G. P.(2009). Do children prefer contingencies? An evaluation of the efficacy of and preference for contingent versus noncontingent social reinforcement during play. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 42, 511–525.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luczynski, K. C., & Hanley, G. P. (2010). Examining the generality of children’s preference for contingent reinforcement via extension to different responses, reinforcers, and schedules. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 43, 397–409.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martens, B. K. & Houk, J. L. (1989). The application of Herrnstein’s law of effect to disruptive and on-task behavior of a retarded adolescent girl. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 51, 17–27.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mason, S. A., McGee, G. G., Farmer-Dougan, V., & Risley, T. R. (1989). A practical strategy for ongoing reinforcer assessment. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 22, 171–179.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McDowell, J. J. (1981). On the validity and utility of Herrnstein’s hyperbola in applied behavior analysis. In C. M. Bradshaw, E. Szabadi, & C. F. Lowe (Eds.), Quantification of steady-state operant behaviour. Amsterdam: Elsevier/North-Holland.

    Google Scholar 

  • McDowell, J. J. (2013). On the theoretical and empirical status of the matching law and matching theory. Psychological Bulletin, 139, 1000–1028. doi:10.1037/a0029924

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neef, N. A., Mace, F. C., Shea, M. C., & Shade, D. (1992). Effects of reinforcer rate and reinforcer quality on time allocation: Extensions of matching theory to educational settings. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 25, 691–699. doi:10.1901/jaba.1992.25-691.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neef, N. A., Shade, D., & Miller, M. S. (1994). Assessing influential dimensions of reinforcers on choice in students with serious emotional disturbance. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 575–583. doi:10.1901/jaba.1994.27-575.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pace, G. M., Ivancic, M. T., Edwards, G. L., Iwata, B. A., & Page, T. J. (1985). Assessment of stimulus preference assessment and reinforcer value with profoundly retarded individuals. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 18, 249–255. doi:10.1901/jaba.1985.18-249.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pence, S. T., St. Peter, C. C., & Tetreault, A. S. (2012). Increasing accurate preference assessment implementation through pyramidal training. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 45, 345–359. doi:10.1901/jaba.2012.45-345.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Powell, S., & Nelson, B. (1997). Effects of choosing academic assignments on a student with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 30, 181–183.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reed, D. D., & Kaplan, B. K. (2011). The matching law: A primer for practitioners. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 4(2), 15–24.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reed, D. D., & Martens, B. K. (2008). Sensitivity and bias under conditions of equal and unequal academic difficulty. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 41, 39–52. doi:10.1901/jaba.2008.41-39.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Slocum, S. K., & Tiger, J. H. (2011). An assessment of the efficiency of and child preference for forward and backward chaining. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 44, 793–805. doi: 10.1901/jaba.2011.44-793.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solberg, K. M., Hanley, G. P., Layer, S. A., & Ingvarsson, E. T. (2007). The effects of reinforcer pairing and fading on preschoolers’ snack selections. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 40, 633–644.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, R. H., Fisher, W. W., & Contrucci, S. A. (1998). Evaluating the reinforcing effects of choice in comparison to reinforcement rate. Research In Developmental Disabilities, 19, 181–187.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, R. H., McKerchar, P. M., & Dancho, K. A. (2004). The effects of delayed physical prompts and reinforcement on infant sign language acquisition. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 37, 379–383.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, R. H., Cotnoir-Bichelman, N. M., McKerchar, P. M., Tate, T. L., & Dancho, K. A. (2007). Enhancing early communication through infant sign training. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 40, 15–23. doi:10.1901/jaba.2007.40-15.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tiger, J. H., & Hanley, G. P. (2006). Using reinforcer pairing and fading to increase the milk consumption of a preschool child. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 39, 399–403.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tiger, J. H., Hanley, G. P., & Hernandez, E. (2006). An evaluation of the value of choosing with preschool children. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 39, 1–16. doi:10.1901/jaba.2006.39-1.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tiger, J. H., Toussaint, K. A., & Roath, C. T. (2010). An evaluation of the value of choice-making opportunities in single-operant arrangements: Simple fixed- and progressive-ratio schedules. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 43, 519–524. doi:10.1901/jaba.2010.43-519.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Voss, S. C., & Homzie, M. J. (1970). Choice as a value. Psychological Reports, 26, 912–914.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou, L., Iwata, B. A., Goff, G. A., & Shore, B. A. (2001). Longitudinal analysis of leisure-item preferences. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 34, 179–184. doi:10.1901/jaba.2006.163-04.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeffrey H. Tiger PhD, BCBA-D .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Tiger, J., Reed, D. (2015). Translational and Applied Choice Research. In: DiGennaro Reed, F., Reed, D. (eds) Autism Service Delivery. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2656-5_7

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics