Preference assessment in individuals with profound and multiple disabilities and teaching choice-making

General aim of this study is to identify the relationship between indirect preference assessment of children with PMD and the preference assessment directly implemented to children as well as the relationship between the primary caregivers? predictions about the food preferences of children with PMD and direct preference assessment of individuals (single stimulus, paired-stimulus, multiple stimulus without replacement) and to determine whether teaching choice-making among photographs is effective with constant time delay procedure. Two methods were used in conjunction with each other. Correlational research which is a relational research method was used to identify the relationship between indirect preference assesment of children with PMD and the preference assessment directly implemented to children as well as the relationship between the primary caregivers? predictions about the food preferences of children with PMD and direct preference assessment of individuals (single stimulus, paired-stimulus, multiple stimulus without replacement) and multiple probe design across subjects, one of the single subject experimental designs was employed to determine whether teaching choice-making among photographs is effective with constant time delay procedure. The study composed of a total of three subjects who live in Bolu; two 9 year old males and one 7 year old female with profound disability diagnosis and their primary caregivers. Primary Caregiver Information Form, Preference Identification Form, Preference Ranking Form, Preference Assessment Recording Form with Single Stimulus Presentation, Preference Assessment Recording Form with Paired Stimulus Presentation, Preference Assessment Recording Form with Multiple Stimulus Without Replacement, forms to use during teaching constant time delay procedure (trial, maintenance and generalization sessions data recording form, skill recording form for choice-making among photographs with 0-second delay trial, skill recording form for choice-making among photographs with 4-second delay trial, trial, maintenance and generalization session implementation safety data sheet, teaching session implementation safety data sheet, social validity forms were prepared as data collection tools and implemented by the researcher. The relationship between the data obtained regarding the first and second objectives of the study was calculated by using Spearman Brown rank correlation coefficient. Graphic analysis was employed in analyzing the data obtained for the third objective of the study. Investigation of the findings obtained regarding the first objective of the study shows a high level positive correlation between the results of primary caregivers? food preferences for children with PMD and the preference assessment results of single stimulus, paired-stimulus, multiple stimuli without replacement. Investigation of the findings obtained regarding the second objective of the study shows a high level positive correlation between the results of preference assessment directly implemented to children with single stimulus, paired-stimulus, multiple stimulus without replacement. Investigation of the findings obtained regarding the third objective of the study shows that the teacher who employed constant time delay procedure was effective in teaching choice-making among photographs, the subjects were able to maintain the skills in the 1st, 3rd and 4th weeks after the instruction was over and they generalized the instruction to their primary caregivers.