The development of a reinforcer choice assessment scale for persons with severe and profound mental retardation.
A new caregiver scale lists 30 possible reinforcers for severe/profound ID, but it still needs proof that the scores predict what clients will actually work for.
01Research in Context
What this study did
L et al. built a new rating scale for clients with severe or profound intellectual disability.
The scale asks caregivers to rank how much each client likes 30 everyday items and events.
No data yet on whether the scores really predict what the client will work for.
What they found
The paper only shows how the questions group into factors, not whether it works.
It is step one: a tool ready for real-world testing.
How this fits with other research
Drijver et al. (2025) did the full job: they proved their new DIAB scale is reliable and valid.
Katz et al. (2003) took the same path with the FACT, giving clinicians a finished checklist for multiply-maintained problem behavior.
Kooijmans et al. (2024) warn that wording must be ultra-simple; their cognitive interviews improved self-report tools for mild ID.
Our 1999 scale has not reached that stage yet, so it should be pilot-tested with Roel’s plain-language rules.
Why it matters
You need quick, cheap ways to spot reinforcers for clients who can’t speak or point. This scale gives you a ready-made item pool and scoring sheet. Until full validation arrives, use it as a starting menu, then run brief preference trials to confirm what really works.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Reinforcement is a cornerstone for treating adaptive skills and eliminating problem behaviors for persons evincing mental retardation. To effectively use reinforcement, professionals must find reinforcers that are most effective for each individual. Establishing reinforcers is particularly important for persons functioning in the severe and profound ranges of mental retardation as reinforcers are often difficult to identify in this population. The current study aimed at developing a reinforcer rating scale that-would have applicability on a broad clinical basis, looking specifically at the psychometric properties of the scale.
Research in developmental disabilities, 1999 · doi:10.1016/s0891-4222(99)00018-9