Ch. 22 - Token Economies

Question 1

A treatment involving a token economy is…

Answer 1

Behaviour modification program in which conditioned reinforcers are used systematically to strengthen the desirable behaviours of individuals participating in educational or treatment programs

Question 2

The purpose of a token economy is to…

Answer 2

strengthen clients desirable behaviours that occur too infrequently and to decrease their undesirable behaviours in a structured treatment environment or educational setting

Question 3

What is a token?

Answer 3

something delivered to a person immediately after a desirable behaviour, accumulated by the person and later exchanged for backup reinforcers

Question 4

Because the token is paired with other reinforcers, it becomes a….

Answer 4

conditioned reinforcer that strengthens the desirable behaviour it follows

Question 5

What are the essential components of a token economy?

Answer 5

the desirable target behaviours to be strengthened, the tokens to be used as conditioned reinforcers, the backup reinforcers to be exchanged for the tokens, a reinforcement schedule for token delivery, the rate at which tokens are exchanged for the backup reinforcers, a time and place for exchanging tokens for backup reinforcers

Question 6

What is an optional component of a token economy?

Answer 6

in some cases, a response cost component, in which the undesirable target behaviours to be eliminated are identified, together with the rate of token loss for each instance of these behaviours

Question 7

What is the first step in implementing a token economy?

Answer 7

identify and define the desirable behaviours that will be reinforced in the program

Question 8

The token must be…

Answer 8

something tangible that the change agent can deliver immediately after each instance of the target behaviours, practical and convenient for the can he agent to carry and to dispense in the treatment environment when the target behaviours occur, in a form that clients can accumulate and, in most cases, carry with them

Question 9

Tokens acquire their effectiveness as conditioned reinforcers because they are paired with…

Answer 9

a backup reinforcer

Question 10

How does limiting access to the backup reinforcer increase their reinforcing value?

Answer 10

A relative state of deprivation is established

Question 11

Often the program begins with ________ reinforcement; later, after the target behaviours are occurring more regularly, an _________ reinforcement schedule may be incorporated to maintain the behaviour.

Answer 11

Continuous, intermittent

Question 12

What is a token exchange rate?

Answer 12

Each back up reinforcers must have a price or the rate are which tokens are exchanged for them

Question 13

When should a response cost component be included?

Answer 13

If there are undesirable behaviours that compete with the desirable behaviours, response cost may be included in the token economy

Question 14

When should a response component be implemented?

Answer 14

it should be introduced after the token economy has been in place for a period of time.

Question 15

List the ‘steps’ in implementing a token economy.

Answer 15

Identify and define the target behaviours, Identify the items to use as tokens, Identify and procure back-up reinforcers, Decide on a schedule of reinforcement for the delivery of tokens, Decide on the token exchange rate, Determine the time and place for exchanging tokens

Question 16

What do you need to consider before implementing a token economy?

Answer 16

Prevent token theft or counterfeiting, Present tokens immediately after desirable behaviour, Remove tokens immediately after undesirable behaviour, Pair token delivery with descriptive praise, Fade tokens before the client leaves the program, Cannot deprive participants of food or other basic rights, Takes a long time