Comparing Multiple Stimulus Preference Assessments to the In-the-Moment Reinforcer Analysis

The provision of reinforcement to increase desired behaviors is a crucial element of behavior analytic intervention for individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Formal preference assessments, like the multiple stimulus without replacement procedure (MSWO), are often used to determine reinforcers used during intervention. While these types of assessments have been widely investigated, there is no empirical evidence to support that these rigorous methods of reinforcement identification produce higher rates of responding compared to the in-the-moment reinforcer analysis. The present study compared the average number of chips sorted per session on a sorting task when participants were reinforced with items selected based on an MSWO preference assessment versus items provided using in-the-moment reinforcer analysis. The results showed no significant difference in the average number of chips sorted, however there were differences in terms of efficiency