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Longitudinal analysis of leisure-item preferences
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
|June 26, 2001
Summary
Preference for leisure items can change over time in individuals with developmental disabilities. While some preferences remained stable, others shifted, indicating a need for further research into preference stability.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral science
- Developmental psychology
- Disability studies
Background:
- Understanding leisure preferences is crucial for enhancing quality of life for individuals with developmental disabilities.
- Assessing the stability of these preferences over time is important for effective intervention planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the temporal stability of leisure item preferences in individuals with developmental disabilities.
- To identify patterns of preference change and stability over a 16-month period.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-two individuals with developmental disabilities underwent two leisure-item preference assessments.
- Assessments were conducted approximately 16 months apart to measure changes over time.
Main Results:
- Thirteen participants showed an overall increase in item contact across the two assessments.
- All participants exhibited some overlap in their top five ranked leisure items between assessments, indicating partial preference stability.
Conclusions:
- Leisure item preferences in individuals with developmental disabilities demonstrate variability over time.
- Individual differences in preference stability necessitate further investigation into factors influencing these temporal shifts.