Thesis Type
Open Access
Degree Name
Master in Applied Behavior Analysis and Clinical Science
Department
Health Professions
Committee Member(s)
Kara Wunderlich
Stephanie Trauschke
Darby Huggins
Supervising Faculty Member
Kara Wunderlich
Abstract
The present study evaluated the efficacy of different assessments to assess reinforcer value and order of preference in regard to social interactions. A key component in this study was to expand on forms of social attention that have not typically been assessed, specifically non-physical. The lack of research in this area has led to an extension in understanding the effects of social attention in terms of reinforcement, as well as determining the optimal methods to do so. The researchers conducted a sequence of assessments across participants: concurrent operant reinforcer assessment, social interaction preference assessment, and multiple stimulus without replacement preference assessment. This study’s aim was to bring awareness to literature regarding the use of preference and reinforcer assessments, emphasize the significance of social attention for individuals with autism spectrum disorder, and highlight notable characteristics in the methodological process. The results show that the assessments are consistent among the hierarchies produced from both reinforcer and preference assessments with significant distinctions in consistency and efficacy.
Recommended Citation
Castaneda, Alecksandra, "Evaluating Preference and Reinforcer Assessments for Distinct Social Interactions" (2025). Thesis Projects. 52.
https://scholarship.rollins.edu/mabacs_thesis/52
Rights Holder
Alecksandra Castaneda
