Assessing preference for social interactions

• Published in: Research in developmental disabilities 2013-01, Vol.34 (1), p.362-371
• Main Authors: Clay, Casey J., Samaha, Andrew L., Bloom, Sarah E., Bogoev, Bistra K., Boyle, Megan A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Assessment; Attention Deficit Disorders; Autistic Disorder - psychology; Behavior Therapy - methods; Biological and medical sciences; Cerebral Palsy - psychology; Child; Choice Behavior; Developmental Disabilities; Developmental Disabilities - psychology; Female; Humans; Intellectual deficiency; Intellectual Disability - psychology; Interaction; Interpersonal Relationship; Male; Medical sciences; Mental Retardation; Methodology. Experimentation; Patient Preference - psychology; Positive Reinforcement; Preference assessment; Preferences; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Reinforcement; Reinforcement (Psychology); Reinforcer assessment; Social Behavior; Social interaction; Techniques and methods; Therapists; Tracking
• ISSN: 0891-4222; 1873-3379
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2012.07.028

► We evaluated preference for social interactions in individuals with IDDs. ► Preferred forms of social interactions were idiosyncratic for each participant. ► Preferred social interactions function as reinforcers for each participant. We examined a procedure to assess preference for social interactions in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Preferences were identified in five individuals using a paired-choice procedure in which participants approached therapists who provided different forms of social interactions. A subsequent tracking test showed that participants’ approaches were under control of the form of social interaction provided as opposed to idiosyncratic features of the therapists. Results of a reinforcer assessment found that the social interaction identified as preferred also functioned as a reinforcer for all five participants.