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Token Economies: Using Basic Experimental Research to Guide Practical Applications

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Abstract

This paper highlights the applicability of patterns seen within basic experimental research in relation to contemporary application of token economies. Token economies are one of the most widely used interventions to promote behavior change, and this procedure has evolved to be effective across many settings, behaviors, and individuals. Due to this widespread use, casual implementation of the token economy might result in inconsistencies in responding and therefore an overall skepticism in the procedure itself. We present multiple barriers that encumber practical application of token economies, including insufficient conditioning and pairing of tokens, determining quality of backup reinforcers, unforeseen effects of motivating operations, teaching the token exchange, effects of higher-order reinforcement schedules, ratio strain, and use of response cost procedures. To assist practitioners in implementing more effective treatments, for each barrier we revisit the often overlooked basic research involving features of conditioned reinforcement and reinforcement schedules. It is important to translate the often complex implications of basic research so that practitioners can use this information to improve their own practice as well as their confidence in disseminating use of this evidence-based treatment. To further guide practitioners in using this knowledge in everyday settings, we also provide recommendations specific to each barrier as well as relevant applied research and practical examples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vanderbilt University Medical Center Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center/Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD), 1211 21st Ave S, #110, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA

    Jeffrey F. Hine

  2. University of Georgia Department of Educational Psychology, Center for Autism and Behavioral Education Research, Athens, GA, USA

    Scott P. Ardoin

  3. Emory University School of Medicine, Marcus Autism Center, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Nathan A. Call

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  1. Jeffrey F. Hine
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  2. Scott P. Ardoin
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  3. Nathan A. Call
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Correspondence to Jeffrey F. Hine.

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All authors declare no conflicts of interest. This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Hine, J.F., Ardoin, S.P. & Call, N.A. Token Economies: Using Basic Experimental Research to Guide Practical Applications. J Contemp Psychother 48, 145–154 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-017-9376-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-017-9376-5

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