Evaluation of Token Economies as Effective Behavior Strategies for Early Learners

Course overview

A token economy is a contingency based reinforcement system used to modify behavior based on the principles of ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis). It is a procedure in which tokens are presented to the learner based upon the occurrence of a predetermined behavior. When used effectively, it can reduce the probability of problematic behavior and increase the rate of desired behavior. A token economy consists of six components; the target behavior, tokens which serve as a conditioned reinforcer, backup reinforcers and three schedules of reinforcement. In this course, participants will learn how to (1) identify a problematic behavior for reduction and a target behavior for reinforcement, (2) objectively define the target behavior, (3) develop a token economy system, (4) implement a token economy procedure, and (5) analyze the effectiveness of the token economy system.