An Evaluation of the Effects of Social Interaction on Preference and Response Allocation

Abstract

Stimulus preference assessment (SPAs) have been successful for determining preferred stimuli and activities to be used as reinforcers (Hagopian, Long, & Rush, 2004). One variable that may influence the outcomes of SPAs is whether social interaction is provided during the stimulus access period of the SPA. Therefore, the purposes of the current study was to (a) compare the results of SPAs in which toys were provided alone (Solitary Assessment) versus one in which the same toys were paired with social interaction (Social Assessment) for a large number of preschool-age children (Study 1), (b) determine an overall preference hierarchy when toys alone and those same toys with social interaction were in the same SPA for the same children in Study 1 (Combined Assessment; Study 2), and (c) determine response allocation across toys alone and toys plus social interaction during a reinforcer assessment in an attempt to validate the results from Study 2 and determine the influence of social interaction on responding for a subset of participants in Study 2 (Study 3). Study 1 results showed that preference for toys was stable across assessments (Solitary and Social Assessments) for the majority of participants. Study 2 results showed toys plus social interaction displaced toys alone for most participants. Study 3 results showed more allocation in responding to toys plus social interaction or social interaction alone over toys alone, which validated the results of the preference hierarchies in Study 2 for most participants.