Token Economies

1
Token Economies

• Chapter 25

2
Some Definitions

• Conditioned Reinforcers
• Not originally reinforcing but becomes reinforcer
  after being paired with other reinforcers
• Tokens
• Conditioned reinforcers that endure, can be
  accumulated and exchanged for backup reinforcers
• Token Economy
• Behavior Modification program that uses tokens

3
Advantages of Token Economies

• Can be given immediately
• Paired with many different backup reinforcers
• Can be administered to large diverse groups

4
Setting up a Token Economy

• Decide on target behavior
• Define behaviors so that all involved can
  identify instances of appropriate and
  inappropriate behavior
• Take baselines
• Baseline data important to know what is needed
• Data can help with selecting backup reinforcers
• Select backup reinforcers
• Identify backup consequences through direct and
  indirect assessment
• Use wide variety of backup reinforcers
• Can use response-cost procedures to punish
  inappropriate behavior

5
Setting up a Token Economy

• Select the type of tokens to use
• Can take many forms, but should be
• Durable
• Easy to handle
• Difficult to steal
• Difficult to counterfeit
• Can gave graded value for tokens
• Can associate different types of tokens with
  different behaviors

6
Setting up a Token Economy

• Identify available help
• Depending on the situation, different people may
  need to help
• Ex teachers, volunteers, behaviorally advanced
  peers, etc.
• Choose the locations
• Some locations are better than others, but often
  do not have a choice of location
• Managing Consequences
• Ensure backup reinforcers are on hand
• Clearly describe criteria for earning and
  exchanging tokens
• Award tokens as immediately as possible
• Use reinforcers such as praise with tokens
• Keep accurate records
• Provide bonuses for high-level performance
• Train those administering tokens

7
Specific Implementation Procedures

• Must decide on procedures for
• Keeping data
• What kinds of sheets?
• Who will record the data?
• When will recording take place?
• The reinforcing agent
• Who will administer the reinforcement and for
  what behaviors?
• Number or frequency of tokens to Pay
• More tokens to start
• Gradually decrease number of tokens
• Less pleasant activities might earn more

8
Specific Implementation Procedures Continued

• Managing the Backup Reinforcers
• How frequently will backup reinforcers be made
  available?
• Frequency high in the beginning
• How much will each reinforcer cost?
• Should be related to monetary cost
• High demand items should cost more
• Low cost for backup reinforcers that have
  therapeutic value
• Possible Punishment Contingencies
• Can use tokens to administer punishment through
  fines
• May need to teach clients how to accept fines in
  a nonaggressive, relatively nonemotional way

9
Specific Implementation Procedures Continued

• Supervision of Staff
• Duties must be clearly spelled out
• Staff must be monitored closely
• Reinforcement must be offered for appropriate
  behavior
• Handling Potential Problems
• Problems must be planned for in advance
• Likely problems
• Confusion
• Staff shortages
• Attempts by clients to get tokens they have not
  earned or backup reinforcers for which they do
  not have enough tokens
• Clients playing with tokens in distracting ways
• Failure to purchase backup reinforcers

10
Preparing a Manual

• Token Economy Manual
• Written set of rules describing exactly how the
  economy is to run
• Includes
• Definite procedures for evaluating whether or not
  the rules are being followed adequately and
  procedures for ensuring that they are
• Methods for arbitrating disputes about rules
• Should be detailed
• Should be given to all staff members

11
Programming Generality to the Natural Environment

• Token economy should be designed so that social
  reinforcement gradually replaces tokens
• Weaning from tokens
• Eliminate tokens gradually
• Gradually make the schedule of token delivery
  more and more intermittent
• Decrease token value gradually
• Gradually decrease amount of backup reinforcement
  that a token can purchase
• Or, gradually increase the delay between getting
  tokens and purchase of backup reinforcements
• Gradually transfer control to the clients

12
Ethical Considerations

• Must take precusions to avoid abuse
• Making the system completely open to public
  scrutiny may ensure that no abuse happens