Comparison of high and low preferred topographies of contingent attention during discrete trial training

• Preference assessments identified preferred forms of attention for children with ASD.
• MSWO and PS both identified the same high and low preferred forms of attention.
• High preferred attention contingencies improved behavior during DTT.

We used the paired-stimulus (PS) and multiple-stimulus without replacement (MSWO) preference assessment procedures to identify high and low preferred topographies of attention for two children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Both preference assessment formats identified the same high and low preferred forms of attention. A reinforcer assessment implemented during discrete trial training demonstrated increased correct responding and reduced challenging behavior when the high preferred form of attention was the contingent reinforcer for both participants. These results replicate previous research demonstrating that children with ASD may have preferences for specific forms of social interaction and that highly preferred forms of attention may function as more potent reinforcers than less preferred forms. This study extends previous research by demonstrating correspondence between the MSWO and PS formats when applied to attention. Implications for practitioners and directions for future research are discussed.