Evaluation of a <scp>concurrent‐operant</scp> demand assessment to determine task preference

Lloveras et al. (2020) built a 5-minute test called the concurrent-operant demand assessment, or CODA.

Clients could touch one of five pictures, each linked to a different work task.

The picture they touched most often told the team which task the client wanted to escape the least.

The authors then checked if these quick rankings matched the break points from a longer progressive-ratio escape test.

For most participants the CODA order lined up with the long PR test.

A five-minute choice screen gave the same task-dislike ranking as a full escape assessment.

Lattimore et al. (2002) used a paired-task choice to pick the single most-liked job for adults with autism. CODA widens that idea to five tasks and adds PR validation, extending the method.

Jerome et al. (2008) showed that progressive-ratio schedules can rank how much people value social partners. CODA borrows the same PR logic but applies it to work demands, not reinforcers.

Avery et al. (2021) advise running an indirect demand screen first to spot triggers. CODA gives you the next step: a fast, direct ranking once you know which tasks to test.

You can now size up task aversion in the time it takes to drink a coffee. Run CODA, line up the pictures, let the client tap, and you have a quick dislike ladder. Pair that ladder with reinforcer data and you can build schedules that swap heavy demands for easy ones right when motivation dips.