Date of Award
7-2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Behavioral Analysis
First Advisor
Mark T. Harvey
Second Advisor
Jonathan K. Fernand
Third Advisor
Richard J. Addante
Fourth Advisor
Lisa A. Steelman
Abstract
The present study evaluated the use of bracketed assessments to assess the activity preference of three individuals with dementia. The study proposed an alternative method to traditional stimulus preference assessments, to bridge the gap in behavior analytical literature within behavioral gerontology. Thus, bracketed assessments were conducted using two presentation methods, verbal plus visual presentation and verbal-only presentation. Results suggested that while participants showed consistency within low preferred activity selection in the bracketed assessment, variability was observed among participants’ preferences for high and moderate preferred activities. Both presentation methods yield similar selection results for one participant, however, the other two participants had a varied selection according to the method in which the stimuli were presented. Implications of the use of preference assessments and obtaining assent within the dementia population are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Del Castillo Troche, Flavia Eduarda, "Bracketed Assessments in Behavioral Gerontology: Evaluating Preference with Present and Absent Stimuli" (2024). Theses and Dissertations. 1534.
https://repository.fit.edu/etd/1534
