Respecting Autonomy and Dignity in Adults with Disabilities: A Review of Preference Assessments and Social Validity

Behavior analysts have been discussing ways to ensure that respect for autonomy, dignity, and compassion are present when working with adults with disabilities. A focus on dignity within human and legal rights, specifically for this population, could inform an essential need for understanding the social validity of procedures used by behavior analysts. A foundational part of behavior-analytic practice is identifying preferences of the individuals we serve. A preference assessment is an essential tool used by behavior analysts to predict stimuli that may function as reinforcers. To understand acceptability of these procedures by individuals whose preference is assessed, collecting social validity data of preference assessment procedures can inform practices that respect individuals’ choice and dignity. This study reviews and summarizes the literature on preference assessment and its social validity in adults with disabilities from 2013 to 2023 in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. We reviewed 11 studies, of which only one reported social validity data. We discuss implications and future direction.