Relative preference for distinct reinforcers maintaining destructive behavior
A fast card-sort test reliably ranks which functional reinforcer a child wants most, so you know exactly what to withhold during treatment.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Four kids with severe problem behavior took part. Each behavior was kept going by two or three different reinforcers, like escape or adult toys.
The team ran a quick free-choice test. Kids saw colored cards that told them which reinforcer was next. They picked the card they wanted most.
The test ran in two ways: free choice and guided trials. Staff recorded which reinforcer the child picked first and most often.
What they found
Every child had a clear favorite. The favorite stayed the same across days and across free or guided trials.
The top pick was different for each child. One wanted escape, another wanted toys, another wanted snacks.
How this fits with other research
Hastings et al. (2001) used a single-stimulus watch-and-touch test. Norris keeps the single-stimulus idea but adds choice and ranking for functional reinforcers.
Butler et al. (2021) showed edible items stay stable for a year. Norris shows functional reinforcers also stay stable, but only within each child.
Wilson et al. (2024) compared video and picture modes for social stimuli. Norris compares free versus guided modes for functional reinforcers. Both aim for the most stable hierarchy.
Why it matters
You can run this five-minute card sort in your next assessment. It tells you which functional reinforcer to withhold first during treatment. One clear rank order saves you from guessing and speeds up the functional analysis.
Want CEUs on This Topic?
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ free CEUs — live every Wednesday. Ethics, supervision & clinical topics.
Join Free →Make colored cue cards for each reinforcer, let the child pick, and use the top pick as the first reinforcer to withhold.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
The literature offers few recommendations for sequencing exposure to treatment conditions with individuals with multiply maintained destructive behavior. Identifying relative preference for the functional reinforcers maintaining destructive behavior may be one means of guiding that decision. The present study presents a preliminary attempt at developing a robust relative preference and reinforcer assessment for individuals with multiply maintained destructive behavior. Guided and free-choice trials were implemented in which participants chose between two multiple-schedule arrangements, each of which programmed signaled periods of isolated reinforcer availability and unavailability. Consistent participant choice and responding during free-choice trials was then used to thin the corresponding schedule of reinforcement. The results demonstrated a strong preference for one of the two functional reinforcers for all four participants, yet preferences differed across participants and were not well predicted by responding in prior analyses.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 2024 · doi:10.1002/jaba.1051