Choice Motivation Assessment

  • Situation

    I work with students with severe disabilities – having them active and engaged is a daily challenge. How can I motivate my kids to become engaged? Often they will not even put their heads up to see what I am giving them.

  • Summary

    A Choice Motivation Assessment can provide the team with valuable information that pinpoints items and activities that are motivating to the student. The Assessment provides choice options that point the way to items that can successfully motivate a student.

  • Definition

    Choice Motivation Assessment is an assessment that presents choices in a variety of categories for students. Using a data sheet the team can tally and determine what items and/or activities a student prefers thus leading to increased engagement.

  • Quick Facts

    • Child's Age: 3-5, 6-10, 11-13, 14-17, 18+
    • Planning Effort: Low
    • Difficulty Level: Easy

  • Pre-requisites

    Access to potentially motivating materials

  • Process

    1. Identify categories for determining a student’s preference such as toys, centers, activities.

    2. Identify 2 choices within each category.

    3. Create a data sheet.

    4. Present the student with 2 choices in each category.

    5. Make presentations for 10 trials for each choice.

    6. Score a + if the student independently reaches for or touches an item and a ‘p’ for prompted.

    7. Tally the +s and note the percentage.

    8. Begin utilizing the item or activity that scored the highest independent choice responses.

  • Documents and Related Resources

    Motivational assessment data sheets (Word document)

     

    Motivational assessment data sheets (PDF)

     

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