Preference Assessment in Developmental Disabilities

Preference assessment encompasses systematic methods for identifying stimuli that individuals with developmental disabilities value and that may function as effective reinforcers. Originating in applied behaviour analysis, these procedures range from single-stimulus presentations to multi-stimulus choice arrays and concurrent schedules. By tailoring interventions to each person’s unique preferences, practitioners can enhance motivation, promote skill acquisition and foster autonomy. In educational and therapeutic settings, preference assessments guide the selection of leisure activities, social interactions, tangible items and sensory experiences to reduce challenging behaviour and improve engagement. Recent advances emphasise dynamic assessment formats, frequent brief reassessments and technology-based delivery to accommodate non-verbal individuals and group contexts. Globally, integrating preference data into person-centred planning has proven instrumental in designing effective interventions for autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability and severe multiple disabilities. Moreover, preference assessment now informs novel domains such as animal-assisted therapies and classroom group contingencies, demonstrating broad applicability and substantial gains in quality of life.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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Preference Assessment in Developmental Disabilities publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in preference assessment in developmental disabilities across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Preference assessment: A procedure for identifying stimuli that increase the likelihood of a target response when delivered contingent on behaviour.

Multiple-stimulus without replacement (MSWO): A format presenting an array of selectable items; once chosen, items are removed and remaining options are reoffered to establish a preference hierarchy.

Concurrent-chains schedule: A choice procedure linking initial selections to subsequent reinforcement conditions, used to evaluate relative preference by examining response allocation.

Discriminated responding: Behaviour that consistently differentiates between available alternatives, indicating a clear preference.

Group contingency: An intervention in which reinforcement for the entire group depends on collective performance, often informed by group preference data.

References

1. Eliminating biased selections during concurrent‐chains schedules: A discovery research example. Behavioral Interventions (2024).
2. Effects of Initial versus Frequent Preference Assessments on Skill Acquisition. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities (2024).
3. Using a Group Stimulus Preference Assessment to Design an Effective Group Contingency. Behavior Analysis in Practice (2024).