The literature offers few recommendations for sequencing exposure to treatment conditions with individuals with multiply maintained destructive behavior. Identifying relative preference for the functional reinforcers maintaining destructive behavior may be one means of guiding that decision. The present study presents a preliminary attempt at developing a robust relative preference and reinforcer assessment for individuals with multiply maintained destructive behavior. Guided and free-choice trials were implemented in which participants chose between two multiple-schedule arrangements, each of which programmed signaled periods of isolated reinforcer availability and unavailability. Consistent participant choice and responding during free-choice trials was then used to thin the corresponding schedule of reinforcement. The results demonstrated a strong preference for one of the two functional reinforcers for all four participants, yet preferences differed across participants and were not well predicted by responding in prior analyses.

中文翻译：

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对维持破坏性行为的不同强化物的相对偏好

对于具有多重破坏性行为的个体暴露于治疗条件的顺序，文献提供了很少的建议。确定对维持破坏性行为的功能强化物的相对偏好可能是指导该决策的一种方法。本研究提出了对具有多重破坏性行为的个体开发稳健的相对偏好和强化物评估的初步尝试。进行了引导性和自由选择试验，参与者在两种多时间表安排之间进行选择，每一种安排都表明了孤立强化物可用和不可用的时期。然后，在自由选择试验中一致的参与者选择和反应被用来减少相应的强化计划。结果表明，所有四名参与者都对两种功能强化物中的一种有强烈的偏好，但参与者之间的偏好不同，并且通过之前的分析响应无法很好地预测。