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Effects of a Perseverative Interest-Based Token Economy on Challenging and On-Task Behavior in a Child with Autism

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Abstract

We compared the effects of a token economy intervention that either did or did not include the perseverative interests of a 7-year-old boy with autism. An alternating treatment design revealed that the perseverative interest-based tokens were more effective at decreasing challenging behavior and increasing on-task behavior than tokens absent the perseverative interest during an early literacy activity. The beneficial effects were then replicated in the child’s classroom. The results suggest that perseverative interest-based tokens might enhance the effectiveness of interventions based on token economies.

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Correspondence to Amarie Carnett.

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Carnett, A., Raulston, T., Lang, R. et al. Effects of a Perseverative Interest-Based Token Economy on Challenging and On-Task Behavior in a Child with Autism. J Behav Educ 23, 368–377 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-014-9195-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-014-9195-7

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