1 pg summary on article attached below
335
JOURNAL OF APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS 2000, 33, 335–338 NUMBER 3 (FALL 2000)
FURTHER EVALUATION OF THE ACCURACY OF
REINFORCER SURVEYS: A SYSTEMATIC REPLICATION
JOHN NORTHUP
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
The present report evaluates the accuracy of a reinforcer survey by comparing the survey
results to the results of subsequent reinforcer assessments for 20 children using a con-
current-operants arrangement to assess relative reinforcer preference. Total accuracy for
the survey was determined to be approximately 57%. The results provide a systematic
replication of Northup et al. (1996) with a much larger sample of children. A need for
the development of more accurate and comprehensive reinforcer assessment methods for
verbal children is discussed.
DESCRIPTORS: reinforcer assessment, functional assessment, surveys, attention def-
icit hyperactivity disorder
Self-reports of potential reinforcers con-
tinue to be widely used to develop treat-
ments for the most common and pervasive
childhood behavior problems. The use of re-
inforcer surveys to identify potential rein-
forcers has a long history in child behavior
therapy. The practice appears to be well es-
tablished, and continued use may be further
supported by the ease and apparent efficien-
cy of administration. Nevertheless, poor cor-
respondence between verbal self-reports and
subsequent behavior has been long noted
and often demonstrated (e.g., Bernstein &
Michael, 1990; Risley & Hart, 1968). Chil-
dren’s ability to accurately name events that
will reinforce future behavior may be partic-
ularly questionable. Northup, George, Jones,
Broussard, and Vollmer (1996) demonstrat-
ed that correspondence between the results
of a reinforcer survey and a subsequent eval-
uation of reinforcement effects was no better
than chance for 4 children with a diagnosis
of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD). However, the evaluation of only
4 subjects for a comparison of this type is a
major limitation of the Northup et al. study.
Correspondence and requests for reprints should be
sent to John Northup, Department of Psychology, 236
Audubon Hall, Louisiana State University, Baton
Rouge, Louisiana 70803.
The Northup et al. (1996) study has ap-
parently not been replicated, and no other
similar evaluations of the accuracy and treat-
ment utility of reinforcer surveys could be
found. The present report provides a system-
atic replication of the procedures of Northup
et al. by (a) conducting a comparison of the
results of a reinforcer survey and subsequent
reinforcer assessments for a much larger
sample of 20 children, and (b) presenting
potential reinforcers (token coupons) simul-
taneously in a more efficient concurrent-op-
erants arrangement rather than singly as in
Northup et al. (1996). Presenting the token
coupons simultaneously is both more effi-
cient and provides a more direct assessment
of relative reinforcement effects.
METHOD
Participants
The files of all children who attended a
su
Why Choose Us
- 100% non-plagiarized Papers
- 24/7 /365 Service Available
- Affordable Prices
- Any Paper, Urgency, and Subject
- Will complete your papers in 6 hours
- On-time Delivery
- Money-back and Privacy guarantees
- Unlimited Amendments upon request
- Satisfaction guarantee
How it Works
- Click on the “Place Order” tab at the top menu or “Order Now” icon at the bottom and a new page will appear with an order form to be filled.
- Fill in your paper’s requirements in the "PAPER DETAILS" section.
- Fill in your paper’s academic level, deadline, and the required number of pages from the drop-down menus.
- Click “CREATE ACCOUNT & SIGN IN” to enter your registration details and get an account with us for record-keeping and then, click on “PROCEED TO CHECKOUT” at the bottom of the page.
- From there, the payment sections will show, follow the guided payment process and your order will be available for our writing team to work on it.