Behaviour modification - token economy

• What is the basis of the token economy system?

  Operant conditioning
• What do prisoners receive each time they perform a desirable behavior in a token economy?

  A token
• What happens to tokens if undesirable behavior occurs?

  Tokens may be removed as punishment
• Why are tokens considered rewarding in a token economy?

  They can be exchanged for something desirable
• How are target behaviors operationalized in a token economy?

  • Break down into component parts
  • Example: 'interaction with others' includes:
  • Speaking politely
  • Not touching others
• What should each unit of behavior in a token economy be?

  Objective and measurable
• How can Terry's enjoyment be used in a token economy?

  As a basis for earning tokens
• What is the scoring system in a token economy?

  It determines how much each behavior is worth
• How are behaviors ranked in a token economy scoring system?

  Behaviors are hierarchical based on demand
• What is the recommended ratio of reinforcements to punishments in a token economy?

  4:1

  
• Why is staff training important in a token economy?

  To standardize procedures across staff
• What must staff do when they award tokens?

  Record the awards for assessment
• What research supports the effectiveness of token economies?

  Hobbs and Holt (1976)
• What did Hobbs and Holt (1976) find about young offenders in a token economy?

  They showed more positive behaviors
• What did Field et al. (2004) discover about young offenders and rewards?

  Immediate rewards increased positive responses
• What is a strength of behavior modification in terms of implementation?


  It is easy to implement
• Why is token economy considered cost-effective?

  It can be implemented by anyone
• What is a weakness of token economies regarding rehabilitative value?

  They may not lead to lasting change
• Why might offenders regress after a token economy is discontinued?

  They may not have internalized behavior changes