An Evaluation of Self-Identified Preferences in Young Children with Behavioral Disorders

Delivery of positive reinforcement is central to most effective interventions for behavior problems of childhood. In many settings, identification of potential reinforcers is often left to either caregivers or the children themselves. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the reliability of self-report of preferences. Seven children and their primary caregivers were given both direct and indirect assessments of preference for tangible items. Results suggest poor correspondence between indirect and direct assessments of preference across respondents. These findings have implications for the development of effective reinforcement systems used in behavior therapy.