Assessing Choice Making of a Person with Profound Disabilities: A Preliminary Analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine two issues in choice-making research through a case study assessing the leisure-activity preferences of a woman with profound mental retardation in a residential setting. The issues include (a) providing the participant with the option of expressing “no” for given choice options and (b) analyzing environmental variables that might control choice-making behavior. The investigation consisted of two experiments; single-subject designs were used in each. The results of the two experiments suggested that (a) the participant could express distinct musical preference when given choice-making opportunities; (b) adding as a choice option a notebook that signaled the termination of a session allowed the participant to express a preference for ending the session when only less preferred options were presented; and (c) preference patterns varied with the activity partner and/or the locale. Results are discussed in terms of choice making and autonomy leading to an improved quality of life.

Keywords

adults choice making leisure quality of life residential setting stimulus control

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