Communication Preference Assessment for Current Users of An Augmentative and Alternative Communication System

We replicated the findings of van der Meer et. al., (2012) to examine the acquisition of manual signs, picture exchange, and speech-generating devices. A nonconcurrent multiple-baseline design across participants combined with an alternating treatment design across Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) modalities was implemented to assess the intervention. Communication preference was evaluated at three stages: pre-baseline, baseline, and throughout the intervention. During the intervention, all three participants met mastery criteria for each communication method and exhibited a preference for the speech-generating device. These results build upon previous studies by demonstrating the differential acquisition of three commonly used alternative communication modalities. Moreover, the findings suggest that children who are currently communicating with an AAC device may show a preference for a modality with which they have less history and lower skill proficiency. These results emphasize the importance of considering the child’s preference for manual sign, picture exchange, and speech-generating devices when implementing AAC interventions. Additionally, the present results further suggest the need for implementing continuous evaluation of a child’s communication preference to optimize their continued use of an AAC device

Evaluating Preference and Reinforcer Assessments for Distinct Social Interactions

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

Impulsivity and Investment Risks: A Behavioral-Economic Analysis of Magnitude Effects in Decision-Making

Human decision making involves weighing probabilistic outcomes and uncertainty alongside the magnitude of potential gains and losses. Delay discounting refers to a perceived decline in the present value of a reward as the delay to acquisition increases. Impulsivity can be reflected by an individual\u27s preference for smaller, immediate reward compared to larger, delayed reward. Experimental manipulation of tasks such as the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) have been introduced to evaluate individual sensitivity to risk in monetary decision-making scenarios. In the current study, we compared two versions of the IGT, one with original magnitudes and one with high magnitudes. We proposed that a change from the original to high magnitude version of the IGT would cause a shift in preference away from advantageous choices and towards disadvantageous choices. We also aimed to see if IGT performance was correlated to impulsivity on the delay discounting task and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale. Results of this study replicated that when the magnitude of reward increases, impulsivity decreases on the delay discounting task. In the IGT the original and high magnitude tasks did not differently impact choices. Performance was not correlated across tasks. This study thus plays an important role in examining multiple behavioral economic factors which relate to impulsiveness, risk-taking and financial behavior in times of economic uncertainty