An Evaluation of Web-Based Preference Assessment Methods Using the Assessment of Preferred Leisure Alternatives for Youth (A-PLAY): Identifying Physical Activity Preferences of Youth

Abstract

The present study examined the Assessment of Preferred Leisure Alternatives for Youth (A-PLAY), a web-based preference assessment application that is designed to efficiently identify preferred types of physical activities for youth. The study evaluated the reliability of the A-PLAY across several preference assessment methodologies including paired stimulus, multiple stimulus without replacement, and rank order assessments. The test-retest reliability of the assessment methods completed by individual participants was also evaluated across multiple sessions. The study participants (N = 14) consisted of typically developing males and females, ranging from seven to fourteen years of age. Results of the assessments show that youth reliably selected preferred activities across sessions (M r&#964; = .611 [p <.001]), across time (M r&#964; = .580 [p <.01]), and across assessment methodologies (M r&#964; = .632 [p <.001]). The results suggest that the A-PLAY provides a reliable approach for conducting preference assessments with typically developing youth in community-based settings using computerized technology. The use of a web-based preference assessment instrument contributes to current research in Applied Behavior Analysis by examining the use of preference assessment methodologies with typically developing youth and in community-based settings.