Single‐ vs. combined‐category preference assessments for edible, leisure, and social‐interaction stimuli

Goldberg et al. (2023) compared two ways to run a paired-stimulus preference assessment. One way tests items from a single category at a time: only snacks, only toys, or only social games. The other way mixes all three categories in the same assessment.

Five children with autism took both types. The team then checked whether items that lost their top spot in the mixed test still worked as reinforcers.

Three of the five kids dropped snacks or toys from their top picks when categories were mixed. Yet when the team tested those dropped items, most still functioned as reinforcers. Rank alone did not tell the whole story.

Duker et al. (1996) showed that high-ranked items almost always work as reinforcers. Goldberg’s results add a wrinkle: an item can fall in rank and still work, so test before you toss.

Miller et al. (2025) extended the displacement idea by showing that longer access time can flip choices back to leisure items. Together, these studies say displacement is fluid—category mix and access length both shift preference.

Matson et al. (2013) found that brand-new items can become strong reinforcers. Goldberg agrees: don’t ignore lower-ranked or unfamiliar picks; they may still reinforce.

Before your next session, run a quick reinforcer test on items that dropped in rank. A five-minute concurrent schedule check can save you from throwing away still-good snacks or toys. Keep the tools; just re-rank them.