Choice of Reward

Shared-Control Reinforcement to Supercharge Motivation in ABA and Classroom Tasks

Giving learners the power to choose what they work for—stickers or screen time, drawing or Lego—dramatically increases buy-in. By embedding reward options alongside task-related choices (materials, seating, partner), teachers, BCBAs, and parents turn mundane assignments into learner-driven goals that sustain attention and boost cooperation.

Why use Choice of Reward?

• Higher task completion and engagement. Studies on choice-based reinforcement report 30 – 50 % jumps in on-task behavior compared with single, teacher-selected rewards.
• Reduced escape and refusal behaviors. When learners control the payoff, motivation rises and avoidance drops, leading to smoother transitions and fewer power struggles.
• Enhanced self-determination and autonomy. Regularly selecting both the task order and the reward builds decision-making skills linked to stronger long-term independence.