Yes, Classroom Teachers Can Use Preference Assessments!
There are so many reasons preference assessments can help you in your classroom! Here are three easy-to-implement tools for your classroom.
If you start looking up preference assessments for behavior support, you’re probably going to see a lot of words like “stimuli,” “free operant,” and “multiple stimulus without replacement.” These are all tools used in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and you might see them and think- “oh man, this is not for me!”
But don’t let the jargon fool you! Special and general education teachers can use preference assessments that don’t take much time or specialized knowledge! The proper preference assessment can help you explore learning preferences, improve your classroom management, encourage student motivation, and improve behavior without needing an ABA consultation!
What is a preference assessment?
A preference assessment is a data collection tool that helps identify which reinforcers are most powerful for a student. It can take many forms, but it is usually structured to compare different types of activities or items directly.
Like this: Would you rather have computer time alone or play a board game with a friend?
When questions are thoughtfully structured, teachers can rank the student’s selection and evaluate what reinforcers are most powerful. That way, when increasing student choice, you know the choices are actually relevant to the student.
Preference assessments usually sort reinforcers or rewards into categories that students like to seek or avoid. I personally like to use these categories:
- Tangible (stickers, food, fidgets, coloring pages, toys)
- Adult Attention (high-fives, praise, lunch with the principal)
- Peer Attention (a round of applause, tell the class a joke, work hung on the wall)
- Activities with Others (a craft or science project, GoNoodle, extra recess)
- Independent Free Time (computer time, reading time, quiet corner)
- Sensory and Movement (fidgets, movement breaks, take a walk, take your shoes off)
- Work Avoidance (no homework pass; the teacher does half your worksheet)
What students find interesting and motivating is unique. These tools help us better differentiate and individualize our support.
What is an interest inventory?
Both preference assessments and interest inventories (also called “reinforcement surveys”) are focused on finding what’s motivating for students so that you can use positive reinforcement for behavior change.
The difference is that preference assessments directly compare choices. Interest inventories are more open and allow students to answer much more freely.
Interest inventories are helpful for a few reasons.
- They’re great to use with a group to see what students like as a whole. They also make great beginning-of-the-year get-to-know-you questionnaires.
- You might find something the student loves that wasn’t even on the preference assessment.
- Once you know which categories are most reinforcing, you can get more specific ideas about what to offer the student for positive behavior.
For example, a preference assessment may find that a student is most strongly motivated by tangible reinforcers. Then, you could use an interest inventory to ask questions like:
- What kind of fidgets do you like?
- What would you put in a classroom treasure box?
- What kind of chips would you want to earn?
This can help you create a choice board personalized to a student or class. I keep the rewards and activities student-centered rather than generic.
When should I use a preference assessment or interest inventory?
Often, teachers are asked to do preference assessments as part of a functional behavioral assessment (FBA) and behavior intervention plan (BIP), but this is sometimes too late.
Using student interest surveys and preference assessments early in the year can improve classroom management before behavior problems arise.
That said, there’s no wrong time to use these tools!
Try out an interest inventory early on with your students. Then, if you need stronger reinforcers to encourage more positive behavior, you can whip out the reinforcer survey as needed.
How do preference assessments and interest inventories help me as a teacher?
Preference assessments and interest inventories are game-changers when understanding your students. By learning what excites and motivates them, you can tailor lessons, activities, and even classroom management strategies to engage your class better. Here are some ways they can help you as a teacher:
Improve Classroom Management
You’ll improve your classroom management and get a better understanding of what makes your students tick. We’ve all asked students what they want to earn or what they like and received blank stares and “I don’t know” answers in return. That won’t happen with a preference assessment!
Students Will Feel Seen
Students feel seen when you acknowledge what they love. Many students love to talk about themselves. But even the ones who don’t still want to feel like their teachers are interested in them as people. One easy way to do this is to ask them! You can use preference assessments to show that you want to learn more about each and every one of them!
Builds Trust
It builds trust and makes behavior and learning challenges easier to navigate. One of the biggest pieces of feedback I get about preference assessments is that the students love being “interviewed” by their teachers. When you give a preference assessment or interest inventory, don’t just hand it to the student to complete. Do it alongside them. Ask them follow-up questions and tell them about your preferences. This builds the student-teacher relationships. It’s also a very low-threatening situation for most students, which is a nice break for students who usually feel challenged when an adult tries to work with them on academic work.
Informative
It can inform an IEP, FBA/BIP, or simply find incentives for positive behavior.
Kinda obvious here, but what might not be obvious is that you don’t just learn what students want. You also learn what they don’t like. Pay attention to those things at the bottom of their lists.
For example, if a student ranks work avoidance high and adult attention low, this could support the function of any interfering behavior as avoiding not only work but also adults. You can adjust your response patterns to their behavior accordingly.
What preference assessments will work for me as a teacher?
Teachers do not need to go to school for years and become behavior analysts to use preference assessments. Don’t get me wrong—Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and other specialists are so, so valuable. But they aren’t always available to teachers, and frankly, teachers can do a lot if they have the right tools. Here are four kinds of preference assessments that I recommend all classroom teachers become familiar with and start to use in their classrooms:
Forced-Choice Preference Assessments
You’ve probably played the game “This or That” before. If you haven’t and you teach elementary or middle school (honestly, some high schoolers would probably love it, too), you should search for “this or that” on YouTube. Basically, students are given two options, and they have to pick which one they prefer by moving to the left or the right side of the screen.
This is basically how a forced-choice preference assessment works. By asking, “Which one do you want?” The key is to thoughtfully line up each type of reinforcer against every other type so you can rank them. Luckily, I already did that for you!
I’ve also included a very simple scoring guide so you can use real data to differentiate your instruction, increase classroom engagement, and support IEPs, FBAs, and BIPs.
I love it because it’s based on the “This or That” game that students already know and love. Plus, it’s already differentiated for you, so you can include student learning preferences and match them to their individual instructional level.
Since I love them so much, I want to share a Just For Fun Version of this with you! I also include them with the preference assessments, this way you can ensure students understand how to take the assessment. But, they’re too fun not to share. They also make a great get-to-know-you activity that can create a positive classroom environment and help students learn about their differences and similarities. Click the image below!
Ranked Preference Assessment
This one is also very simple. Students look at different options and rate how much they like them. A four-point scale is usually pretty easy for students to use. Here’s the one that I made with the idea of easy implementation in mind:
They’re also differentiated with numbers or smiley faces, so they’re suitable for a wide variety of students.
Open-ended interest Inventories or Reinforcement Surveys
These are super fun and super easy to use! They’re great at the beginning of the year if you’re looking for a creative way to use student interest surveys and discover learning preferences.
Any open-ended questionnaire or get-to-know-you survey will do. But let me tell you what I was thinking when I created these. I wanted an open-ended interest survey that was:
- Differentiated
- Practical (meaning a focus on things that actually worked),
- Prompted discussion that got at the function of student behavior
- It was actually fun to implement and didn’t feel like a test for the kids.
These differentiated resources are actually engaging. Kids love it when their teachers ask them questions like they’re being interviewed and imagine what the most perfect day of school ever would look like. Bonus: you can use this whole group as a fun and differentiated writing project!
Praise Preference Assessments
Praise is one of the easiest things you can do to get huge payoffs. Focusing on praise can improve your classroom environment, build relationships, increase classroom engagement and student motivation, and improve behavior.
But did you know that there are different types of praise, and students like some more than others? Some students can actually try to avoid doing something well just to keep the teacher from praising them in front of others! You can discover how to make your praise extra effective with a praise preference assessment!
THIS ONE breaks down praise into three types:
- Public Praise: For those who shine in the spotlight and like peer attention.
- Private Praise: One-on-one check-ins and non-verbal communication that they’re rocking it
- Family Notified Praise: An amazing way to also get the family on board in a positive way
Check out this easy-to-differentiate praise preference assessment! It’s so simple to use and will save you time when designing behavior supports!
Want them all? Get them in this BUNDLE for a discount!
Go get started!
Preference assessments and interest inventories aren’t just for behavior specialists—they’re powerful, easy-to-use tools you can use to transform your classroom management and get your students engaged!
So why not give them a try? Start with a quick interest inventory to get to know your students better, or implement a forced-choice preference assessment to see what truly motivates them. You’ll be amazed at how small insights can improve behavior, participation, and overall classroom success.
Let me know how it went! You can always send me an email at Mackenzie@LittleVictoriesinLearning.com
