Effects of Magnitude on the Displacement of Leisure Items by Edible Items During Preference Assessments

Abstract

Studies on preference assessments have shown that when both edible and leisure items are compared, edible items tend to displace leisure items in preference hierarchies. However, the mechanisms behind this process are currently unclear. One possibility is that displacement may be a product of the relatively brief periods of access to leisure items typically used in preference assessments. The purpose of the current investigation was to examine whether the duration of access to leisure items affects displacement. In this study, participants chose between preferred leisure items and the edible items that had previously been shown to displace those leisure items in a preference hierarchy. Duration of access to the leisure item was systematically increased across series to identify the magnitude at which leisure items became more preferred than edible items. Results indicate that as the duration of access to leisure items increases, displacement decreases.

A replication of preference displacement research in children with autism spectrum disorder

“…In the present study, a pattern of complete displacement by edible stimuli was observed for only 4 of 25 (16%) participants. These results are similar to those reported by Andakyan et al (2016), Carter and Zonneveld (2019), Clark et al (2019), Conine and Vollmer (2019), and Slanzi et al (2019) in that the experimenters observed limited patterns of displacement of leisure stimuli by edible stimuli. By contrast, Fahmie et al (2015) found patterns of complete displacement by edible stimuli for five of seven (71%) participants with ASD.…”

“…In a study with four children with ASD (ages 4‐7 years), Andakyan et al (2016) found that highly preferred edible stimuli were the highest preferred stimuli in a combined assessment for two participants (50%) and they observed patterns of complete displacement by edible stimuli for only one of four participants (25%). Similar results were obtained by Clark et al (2019), where one participant (33%) demonstrated a pattern of complete displacement by edible stimuli and two participants (66%) demonstrated patterns of partial displacement by leisure stimuli (i.e., a participant selected three leisure stimuli as their first, second, and third selections).…”

“…A majority of participant responding did not meet criteria for complete or partial displacement categories; as a result, patterns of no displacement were observed in 56% of participants. Lastly, the percentage of participants selecting a leisure stimulus as their most preferred (56%) was generally higher than that reported in previous research (i.e., Bojak & Carr, 1999; Clark et al, 2019; Conine and Vollmer, 2019; DeLeon et al, 1997; Fahmie et al, 2015; Slanzi et al, 2019).…”

“…Recently, researchers have observed fewer patterns of displacement of leisure stimuli by edible stimuli than in previous studies (e.g., Andakyan et al 2016; Clark et al, 2019; Conine & Vollmer, 2019; Slanzi et al, 2019). These recent studies have focused primarily on individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; see Carter & Zonneveld, 2019, for an example of research with typically developing children).…”

“…Results from Conine and Vollmer (2019), Slanzi et al (2019), Andakyan et al (2016), and Clark et al (2019) suggest the relative value of leisure stimuli in a combined assessment may not be as sensitive to displacement as previously reported, at least with children with ASD. Though the results of Conine and Vollmer and Slanzi et al indicated that edible stimuli were more likely to be selected than leisure stimuli overall, the results of the above‐mentioned studies found less displacement of leisure stimuli by edible stimuli than was reported in prior research with individuals with intellectual disabilities and ASD (i.e., Bojak & Carr, 1999; DeLeon et al, 1997; Fahmie et al, 2015).…”