Definition
Free-Operant Observations involve placing potential reinforcers in the environment and allowing an individual to interact freely with those items without guidance or prompting. The purpose is to observe which items or activities the individual naturally gravitates towards and engages with, providing insight into their preferences. This method is often used to identify preferred items or activities that can be used as reinforcers in later interventions.
Example
In a classroom, the teacher places several toys, puzzles, and books around the room and allows the child to move around freely and engage with whichever items they prefer. The teacher records which items the child spends the most time with. During this free-operant observation, if the child consistently chooses to play with a particular toy, the teacher can infer that the toy may serve as an effective reinforcer for future learning tasks.