Assessing opportunities for choice-making: a comparison of self- and staff reports.

Self-report responses by adults with mental retardation about the availability of choice were compared with staff responses, and high levels ofchoice were reported on most items.

Abstract

Self-report responses by adults with mental retardation about the availability of choice were compared with staff responses. Self-reports and staff responses were in clear disagreement on 3 of 10 items. In each case subjects reported that they had significantly more choice than was perceived by staff members. These items involved issues of major life impact for which less choice was available than for other items. Intermingling self-report and third-party responses in research about choice seems unwise because their equivalence cannot be assumed. In contrast to some previous studies, high levels of choice were reported on most items.