Using choice to increase on-task behavior in individuals with traumatic brain injury.

The team worked with adults who had traumatic brain injury.

Each adult completed work tasks in two setups.

In one setup the adult picked the task order.

In the other setup the staff picked the order for them.

The researchers flipped the setups back and forth to see which one kept the adults on task.

When adults could choose, they stayed on task more often.

When staff chose for them, on-task behavior dropped.

The pattern repeated every time the setups switched.

Ghaziuddin et al. (1996) saw the same boost with preschoolers who had disabilities.

Choice cut their severe problem behavior and lifted communication.

Boudreau et al. (2015) tested choice with typically developing kids.

Results were mixed; payoff history swayed the kids more than choice itself.

The mixed child data do not clash with the TBI study.

Adults with brain injury may value control more than young kids do.

Bassett-Gunter et al. (2017) link daily choice to paid jobs for adults with ID, autism, or Down syndrome.

Together the papers show choice helps across ages and diagnoses.

You can add a two-second choice to almost any task list.

Let the client pick the order, the color, or the tool.

No extra tokens or praise are needed.

Try it during work sessions, ADL training, or prevocational tasks.

Watch if engagement rises, then keep the choice routine in the plan.