Evaluating pictorial preference assessment: The effect of differential outcomes on preference assessment results

Three formats for assessing preferences were examined, tangible, pictorial with access, and pictorial without access. Reinforcer assessments were conducted to verify reinforcer effects. Phase 1 examined the assessment formats in alternating blocks of trials. Phase 2 examined results of the entire pictorial without access condition administered first followed by the other formats. Results of Phase 1 indicate similar preference hierarchies for 4 out of 5 participants regardless of format. Phase 2 reinforcer assessment results indicate pictorial without access assessments may be accurate for some but not all participants when assessments are completed in their entirety. Results further indicate that pictorial without access assessments take the least amount of time to administer. Extension and application of these results are discussed.