Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictive validity of an assessment tool to identify foods to target when treating food selectivity. Initially, compliance with food related demands was compared across the target foods in an effort to produce a preference hierarchy among nonpreferred foods. Then researchers evaluated how predictive the compliance assessment was of treatment outcomes. In experiment two researchers compared percentage of acceptance in the absence of expulsion, as well as inappropriate mealtime behavior (IMB) across food items correlated with high versus low percentage of compliance using nonremoval of the spoon. For one participant, foods that were more similar to the preferred food had a higher percentage of acceptance in the absence of expulsion and a shorter latency to acceptance. For both participants, decreased IMB was correlated with the more similar foods. The effectiveness of procedural variations of the nonremoval of the spoon procedure, are discussed.