The Effects of Preference for Objects and Repeated Measures upon the Assessed Level of Object Permanence and Means/End Ability in Severely Handicapped Students

Abstract

The effects of relative preference for objects upon performance levels obtained on the Object Permanence and Means/Ends scales of the Uzgiris and Hunt (1975) sensorimotor assessment instrument were examined. Empirical measures of the preferences of 14 severely or profoundly handicapped students residing in a private facility were collected on three occasions. High preference and low preference objects were then used in separate scale administrations. Repeated measures were collected to determine performance stability. Ordinality of performance on the Means/Ends scale was also examined. Interobserver reliability was computed. Coefficients of concordance were computed for the three preference rankings of each student. Findings indicated that (a) stable preference measures could be obtained, (b) high preference objects resulted in higher motivation to perform, and hence higher levels on each scale, (c) performance of this population is not stable, and (d) ordinality violated in nearly 20 % of the administrations of the scales. Results are discussed relative to other validation efforts with the population.