A token economy system is meant to modify behavior by using tokens to increase desirable behavior. An individual receives tokens for displaying a desirable behavior, which is then exchanged for backup reinforcers (Blackman, 2017). Token economies primarily encourage and teach appropriate social skills and behavior among individuals. Below is a simple token economy system for a five-year-old autistic child who frequently escapes when it is time to work at the table.
The Tokens
The child shall receive point tallies as tokens for not escaping when it is time to work at the table. For every session, the child does not escape; she shall earn 100 tally points.
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The Target Behaviors and Rules
The child shall be notified the token economy target behaviors- if the child does not escape when it is time to work at the table, she shall earn 100 tally points when she escapes when it is time to work at the table, she shall lose 150 tally points.
How it shall be system-specific or individualized
The child and the program administrator shall each maintain a point’s tally card where the number of points is indicated at the end of every work session. The child shall with the administrator indicate and countersign each tally card after every work session.
Backup Reinforcers Menu
There shall be a wide range of backup reinforcers that includes toys, food items, free time to watch a movie/cartoons, an outing to the park. The food items to be used as reinforcers include sweets, chocolates, and assorted baked item.
The Ratio of Exchange
There shall be a different exchange rate for different backup reinforce. Below is the exchange rate
250 points – 2 sweets
300 points – 1 chocolate bar
500 points – free time to watch movie/cartoons
450-700 points – assorted backed Items
850-1200 points – assorted toys
2000 points – an outing to the park
Procedures to Dispense and Exchange Tokens
The child shall be free to dispense and exchange token any day but at the end of a work session. She shall make the exchange request to the administrator who shall deduct the number of points exchanged from the Childs total tally and exchange it with the backup reinforce.
Response Cost
A response cost in the form of punishment shall be instituted in the event token requirements are not met. The punishment may involve not attending function the children like most like the child’s fun day and not attending a friend’s birthday party.
Ethical, Legal, Individual, Practical, and Social Validity Considerations
All children legal and ethical rights shall be taken into consideration to ensure no rights infringement. The token economy system shall individualize and practiced in the context of the five-year-old autistic child. The system is social valid since it is meant to increase the child’s desirable behavior and reduce the child’s behavior of escaping when it is time to work at the table.
Reference
Blackman, D. E. (2017). Operant conditioning: an experimental analysis of behaviour . London: Routledge books, p. 12-14.
