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Validity of the multiple-stimulus without replacement preference assessment for edible items
Jennifer N Fritz1, Christopher T Roath1, Patricia T Shoemaker1
1University of Houston-Clear Lake.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
|April 21, 2020
Summary
The multiple-stimulus without replacement (MSWO) assessment accurately identifies preferred edible items for most individuals. However, it may not consistently predict the highest quality reinforcer for all participants.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Science
- Applied Behavior Analysis
- Reinforcement Learning
Background:
- The multiple-stimulus without replacement (MSWO) is a common preference assessment.
- Factors other than reinforcer quality may influence choices in MSWO assessments, especially with edible items.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the validity of MSWO assessments.
- To compare MSWO results with concurrent-schedule (CS) assessments for edible items.
Main Methods:
- Participants completed MSWO preference assessments using edible items.
- The validity of MSWO results was tested by comparing them to outcomes from concurrent-schedule assessments.
Main Results:
- The MSWO assessment correctly identified the higher-quality edible item for 76% of participants.
- For 20% to 30% of participants, MSWO did not accurately predict the most preferred item in the CS assessment.
Conclusions:
- MSWO is largely effective for identifying preferred edible items.
- Limitations exist, as MSWO may not always identify the absolute highest quality reinforcer for all individuals.
