Free-operant assessment of musical preference

Conjugate reinforcement was used as a contingency to assess musical preferences of two Ss. Each S was involved in two experimental sessions, in which two different musical selections were constantly available. The S, provided with a hand switch, could select continuously the music of his choice by either responding or not responding. These hand-switch responses were graphically recorded, enabling the E to determine not only the individually preferred music, but the quantitative amount this option represented. These data revealed that each S responded in a manner indicative of a decided preference for one musical selection over another throughout each experimental session.