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Preference and Demand Characteristics of Reinforcement: Practical Extensions

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Autism Service Delivery

Part of the book series: Autism and Child Psychopathology Series ((ACPS))

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Abstract

Positive reinforcement is a common component of many response acquisition and reduction programs. Given the ubiquity of this process, it is critical to identify stimuli that will function as effective positive reinforcers. This issue is particularly vexing for individuals who have limited communicative skills, as is the case for many individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To address this problem, previous research has identified a range of preference identification methods. A review of these methods is provided in the first part of this chapter. The remainder of this chapter addresses variables that might influence the efficacy of positive reinforcement-based procedures, with a particular emphasis placed on the methods and analytic methods that are common to a subfield of behavior analysis—behavioral economics. In this conceptual framework, responding is viewed as an interaction between several variables, such as the price of the reinforcer, demand for a particular reinforcer, and the magnitude of reinforcement. Clinical examples of these concepts are discussed in reference to how they might impact responding in reinforcement-based programs for individuals with ASD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA

    Dr. Nicole M. DeRosa & Henry S. Roane

Authors
  1. Dr. Nicole M. DeRosa
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  2. Henry S. Roane
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Correspondence to Nicole M. DeRosa .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Applied Behavioral Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA

    Florence D. DiGennaro Reed

  2. Dept. Applied Behavioral Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA

    Derek D. Reed

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DeRosa, N., Roane, H. (2015). Preference and Demand Characteristics of Reinforcement: Practical Extensions. In: DiGennaro Reed, F., Reed, D. (eds) Autism Service Delivery. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-2656-5_11

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