The Single Stimulus (or Successive Choice) method is a behavioral assessment technique used primarily in settings where evaluating an individual's preferences is necessary, such as in therapies for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This method is particularly useful when the individual being assessed has limited communication skills or when a straightforward evaluation is required.
In the Single Stimulus method, different items or activities are presented to the individual one at a time, in succession. The key is to observe and record the person's reaction to each stimulus without the influence of other options. This can help determine preferences or aversions based on whether the person engages positively, neutrally, or negatively with the stimulus.
The method is valuable because it allows for the assessment of preference in individuals who may struggle with more complex tasks that require choosing between multiple items simultaneously (as in a paired choice method). However, its drawback is that it might not provide information on how strong a preference is compared to other items, just whether a preference exists.
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