What is a single-stimulus preference assessment?

• A. Present one item at a time and observe the individual's reaction to infer preference.
• B. Present all items at once and ask which is preferred.
• C. Offer choices between two items.
• D. Remove items after selection and observe alternatives.

Answer: (A)

Single-stimulus preference assessment tests items one at a time, measuring the learner’s reaction to each item separately to infer which items are reinforcing. You present an item in isolation and observe behaviors such as approach, engagement duration, or latency to engage. This is repeated with all items, and no direct choice between items is required. The information gathered helps identify potential reinforcers and guides further testing, often using paired-stimulus or multiple-stimulus methods to confirm which items are truly preferred. The other options describe procedures that involve presenting several items together or asking the learner to choose between items, which are different assessment types.