Date of Award

August 2017

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Jeffrey H. Tiger

Committee Members

Jeffery H. Tiger, Tiffany Kodak, Christine Larson, Bonita Klein-Tasman, Julie Ackerlund Brandt

Keywords

Aba, Choice, Conditioning, Preference

Abstract

ABSTRACT

THE DEVELOPMENT OF PREFERENCE FOR OR AGAINST CHOICE-MAKING OPPORTUNITIES

by

Melissa A. Drifke

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 2017

Under the Supervision of Professor Jeffrey Tiger

Many individuals prefer contexts in which choice-making opportunities are available relative to contexts in which the same experiences are arranged without the opportunity to choose. Further, providing contingent access to choice-making opportunities often results in increased engagement and decreased problem behavior for individuals in reinforcement-based programs. Little is known about why preferences for choice-making contexts develop. The current study examines pairing choice-making contexts with increased or decreased reinforcer magnitude, quality, and immediacy to develop preference for choice-making or no-choice contexts. We examined preferences in concurrent chains arrangements consisting of selection responses, brief work requirements, and reinforcement. In choice conditions, the child selected their edible item; in no-choice conditions, a single edible was available. During baseline probes, the edible items were identical, but during conditioning, edibles differed in magnitude, quality, or immediacy. Using these conditioning histories, we created changes in preference in 100% of opportunities, extending previous literature in this area.

Keywords: preference, choice, magnitude, quality, immediacy

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