Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, Vol 24(4), Nov 2024, 180-194; doi:10.1037/bar0000294
Including individualized, preferred stimuli as reinforcers within behavior change procedures is one way that behavior analysts individualize their services. Research has historically focused on the methods of identifying edible or leisure reinforcers but recently developed methods suitable for social reinforcers. It remains unclear how likely behavior analysts are to utilize the different types of reinforcers and how the methods of reinforcer identification may vary based on the reinforcer type. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical practices related to the identification and the use of social versus nonsocial reinforcers. We asked 362 Behavior Analyst Certification Board certificants how likely they are to use different types of reinforcers and what methods they use to identify different types of reinforcers. The results suggest that nonsocial reinforcers are used more frequently than social reinforcers in clinical practice. The methods of reinforcer identification were mostly similar across different types of reinforcers, but a few clear differences were apparent. As a secondary aim, we surveyed Behavior Analyst Certification Board certificants and verified course sequence coordinators to evaluate how educational practices may contribute to or explain these clinical practices. Our results suggest that some clinicians do not receive training on the identification of social reinforcers and, when they do, the training is relatively brief. Implications and recommendations for future research and practice are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)