Behavior Assessment
Preference and skill assessment
Select and interpret preference, strengths, and skill assessments to identify reinforcers, prerequisite skills, and socially meaningful targets.
How this shows up in scenario questions
- 1Choose a preference assessment when reinforcers are unclear.
- 2Use skill assessment data to select teaching goals.
- 3Distinguish preference from reinforcer effectiveness.
Common misconceptions
- Assuming preference equals reinforcement.
- Selecting goals from deficits only.
- Using outdated preference information.
Distractor patterns
- Pick reinforcers from diagnosis.
- Skip verification during teaching.
- Ignore strengths when selecting goals.
Related terms
preference assessmentskill assessmentstrengthsneeds assessment
Related practice prompts
Select assessment methods before intervention.
A teacher reports that a learner screams during independent work. No data have been collected and the function is unknown. What should the BCBA do first?
Interpret private events without treating them as independent causes.
A client says, 'I hit because I feel anxious.' What is the most behavior-analytic way for the BCBA to use this information?
Select assessment methods based on the referral question.
A team needs reinforcers for teaching requesting help, but staff are unsure what the participant currently prefers. What assessment is most relevant? The BCBA is checking whether the response matches the referral concern.