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Long‐term effects of a token economy on target and off‐task behaviors
Author(s) -
Wasserman Theodore H.,
Vogrin Daniel J.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
psychology in the schools
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1520-6807
pISSN - 0033-3085
DOI - 10.1002/1520-6807(197910)16:4<551::aid-pits2310160419>3.0.co;2-5
Subject(s) - token economy , reinforcement , task (project management) , security token , psychology , term (time) , population , social psychology , economics , computer science , medicine , environmental health , computer security , physics , management , quantum mechanics
The present study examined the effects of a token economy on off‐task (nontarget) behavior occurring concurrently with the reinforcement of target behavior. The ability of a token economy to maintain its effectiveness for a long time period when utilized in a class for emotionally disturbed and learning disabled children was also investigated. Results indicated that while the token economy maintained its effectiveness in terms of increasing the frequency of target behaviors, the frequency of offtask or inappropriate behaviors also increased as the year progressed. Implications for using token economies with a special population are discussed.