Multiple Stimulus Preference Assessment without Replacement (MSWO)

A Multiple Stimulus Preference Assessment without Replacement (MSWO) is a method used to identify an individual’s preferred items by presenting multiple choices at once, but unlike the “with replacement” procedure, once an item is selected, it is not replaced in the array. The individual continues selecting from the remaining items until all have been chosen or the assessment ends. This method helps rank preferences by identifying which items are selected first and which are chosen later.

Example:

A therapist presents five toys to a child (e.g., a ball, a car, a puzzle, a doll, and a book). The child selects the ball. The therapist removes the ball and then presents the remaining four toys. The child now chooses the car, and the car is also removed. This process continues until the child has selected from all the items. By recording the order in which items are chosen, the therapist can determine the child’s hierarchy of preferences, with the first-selected items being the most preferred.

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