A Single StimulusStimulus is defined as any change in the environment or form of energy that affects an organism’s behavior or physiological state. Stimuli can be external or internal, and they can el... More Preference Assessment, is a method used in AppliedApplied means that the behaviors targeted for change in ABA are important and meaningful in everyday life, helping to improve the person’s quality of life or social functioning. Example A ... More BehaviorBehavior refers to any activity or action that living organisms engage in, which can be observed, measured, and analyzed. It encompasses all interactions an organism has with its environment, inc... More Analysis (ABA) to determine which items or activities are preferred by an individual. In this assessment, one item is presented to the individual at a time, and their reaction to or interaction with the item is recorded. The process is repeated with multiple items to identify which items the individual engages with the most, indicating potential reinforcers.
Example
A behavior analyst wants to identify which toys are most reinforcing for a child named Tim. The analyst presents Tim with a toy car, and Tim plays with it for 3 minutes. Next, Tim is presented with a stuffed animal, but he shows no interest in it. The analyst continues presenting one item at a time, including a ball, a puzzle, and a book. Tim shows the most engagement with the toy car and ball. Based on this assessment, the behavior analyst determines that the toy car and ball are preferred items and can be used as reinforcers during behavior interventions.