Using Computer Tablets to Assess Preference for Videos in Children with Autism

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) presents unique challenges in identifying effective reinforcers for behavioral interventions.
• Understanding individual preferences is crucial for tailoring therapeutic strategies.
• Technology, such as computer tablets, offers novel methods for preference assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a tablet-based procedure for assessing video preferences in children with ASD.
• To determine if identified video preferences could serve as effective reinforcers in a clinical setting.

Main Methods:

• A concurrent schedule design was employed with five children diagnosed with ASD.
• Computer tablets were used to assess individual preferences for various videos.
• Access to preferred and less preferred videos was made contingent on sitting in designated chairs.

Main Results:

• All participants consistently chose the chair associated with their most preferred video.
• The tablet-based preference assessment accurately identified videos that motivated the children's behavior.
• This indicates a strong link between video preference and behavioral engagement.

Conclusions:

• Tablet-based video preference assessments are a viable tool for identifying effective reinforcers for children with ASD.
• Practitioners can utilize this method in applied settings to enhance behavioral interventions.
• Personalized reinforcement strategies can improve outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorder.