Chapter 22 The Token Economy PDF

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1. A teacher wants to increase the academic performance of the students in her class. The children receive stickers each time they complete an academic task, and when they have accumulated a certain number of stickers they can exchange them for 15 minutes of playing computer games. This program that uses conditioned reinforcers to strengthen a desirable behavior is referred to as: a. differential reinforcement b. respondent conditioning c. behavioral skills training d. a token economy ANSWER: d 2. A conditioned reinforcer that is used in a token economy to increase desirable behavior is referred to as a(an): a. backup reinforcer b. establishing operation c. token d. primary reinforcer ANSWER: c 3. In a token economy, a token is delivered to an individual immediately ____________ occurs. a. before the problem behavior b. after the problem behavior c. before the desirable behavior d. after the desirable behavior ANSWER: d 4. A token becomes a conditioned reinforcer because it is paired with: a. establishing operations b. backup reinforcers c. the occurrence of desirable behavior d. A and B ANSWER: b 5. When an individual accumulates a specified number of tokens in a token economy, the tokens are exchanged for ____________ reinforcers. a. conditioned b. backup c. secondary d. negative ANSWER: b 6. Which of the following components is NOT always used in a token economy? a. implementing response cost b. determining the reinforcement schedule c. establishing the token exchange rate d. identifying backup reinforcers

ANSWER: a 7. A researcher plans to implement a token economy with a group of juvenile offenders in a treatment program. What is the first step in planning a token economy? a. identifying items to use as tokens b. deciding on the schedule of reinforcement c. defining the target behavior d. identifying backup reinforcers ANSWER: c 8. A behavioral definition of the desirable behavior is important in a token economy for all of the following reasons except: a. individuals will know what is expected of them b. the desirable behavior can be assigned a label c. change agents can reliably deliver the tokens d. the occurrence of the desirable behavior can be recorded ANSWER: b 9. The tokens that are selected for use in a token economy must be: a. intangible b. convenient to dispense c. difficult to accumulate d. available from outside sources ANSWER: b 10. A researcher is trying to identify items that could be used as tokens to improve the academic performance of hyperactive students. Which of the following items would be good to use as tokens in the token economy? a. pennies b. snacks c. toys d. all of these ANSWER: a 11. Which of the following is NOT true concerning backup reinforcers? a. they can interfere with the ability of a token to become a conditioned reinforcer b. they may include activity reinforcers and privileges c. they cannot involve things that an individual has a basic right to access d. they should only be available to individuals through token exchange ANSWER: a 12. At the beginning of a token economy a (an) ____________ reinforcement schedule is often used, and when the desirable behavior begins to occur more frequently a(an) ____________ schedule of reinforcement is used to maintain the behavior.

a. intermittent; continuous b. continuous; intermittent c. continuous; intermittent d. variable interval; fixed interval ANSWER: b 13. In a token economy, the token exchange rate refers to the number of tokens: a. received for each instance of the desirable behavior b. lost for each instance of undesirable behavior c. required to obtain backup reinforcers d. A and C ANSWER: c 14. Which of the following is true concerning establishing the time and place for exchanging tokens? a. individuals should always have access to the token store b. individuals in the token economy should determine the time and place c. the time and place for token exchange should be planned in advance d. a specific time and place is only important when a large number of people are involved ANSWER: c 15. A response cost component might be implemented in a token economy if: a. undesirable behaviors do not compete with desirable behaviors b. the problem behaviors are not socially significant c. the change agent can get the tokens back d. there are no competing behaviors ANSWER: c 16. Which of the following is NOT true concerning the use of response cost in a token economy? a. it should be implemented at the beginning of the program b. clients should be aware of the number of tokens lost for undesirable behavior c. it involves the loss of tokens for engaging in undesirable behavior d. the number of tokens lost should depend on the severity of the problem ANSWER: a 17. Training is necessary in the implementation of a token economy so that change agents are able to consistently : a. discriminate each instance of the target behavior b. delay the delivery of tokens after the target behavior occurs c. implement response cost immediately before the problem behaviors occur d. A and C ANSWER: a

18. Which of the following is NOT true concerning the use of praise in a token economy? a. praise is a natural conditioned reinforcer for most people b. praise is faded once the desirable behavior begins to occur regularly c. praise is continued after the use of tokens has been discontinued d. praise will become more potent when paired with tokens ANSWER: b 19. Fading is implemented in a token economy: a. once the individual leaves the treatment program b. to decrease the probability that the behavior change will generalize c. because the components of the program are found in most everyday situations d. when natural reinforcement contingencies can be used to maintain the desired behavior ANSWER: d 20. Which of the following is NOT true concerning a token economy? a. desirable behavior can be immediately reinforced b. tokens are easy to dispense and accumulate c. a token economy is easy to implement in terms of time and effort d. response cost is easier to implement in a token economy ANSWER: c 21. A ____________ that is used in a token economy to increase desirable behavior is referred to as a token a. unconditioned reinforcer b. conditioned stimulus c. conditioned reinforcer d. unconditioned stimulus ANSWER: c 22. The tokens that are selected for use in a token economy must be all of the following except: a. easy to dispense b. easy to accumulate c. easy to spend d. easy to duplicate ANSWER: d 23. Which of the following is true concerning backup reinforcers? a. they may include activity reinforcers and privileges b. they cannot involve things that an individual has a basic right to access c. they should only include one or two powerfully reinforcing items d. A and B ANSWER: d 24. Which of the following is true concerning the use of response cost in a token economy ?

a. it should be implemented at the beginning of the program b. clients should not be aware of the number of tokens lost for undesirable behavior c. it involves the loss of tokens for engaging in undesirable behavior d. the number of tokens lost should not depend on the severity of the problem ANSWER: c 25. Which of the following is true concerning the use of praise in a token economy? a. praise is a not natural conditioned reinforcer for most people b. praise is faded once the desirable behavior begins to occur regularly c. praise is continued after the use of tokens has been discontinued d. praise will become more potent if it is only occasionally paired with tokens ANSWER: c 26. Which of the following is true concerning a token economy? a. desirable behavior can be immediately reinforced b. tokens are not easy to dispense and accumulate c. a token economy is easy to implement in terms of time and effort d. A and C ANSWER: a 27. How are back-up reinforcers obtained in a token economy? a. by paying for them with tokens b. in a response cost program c. they are delivered following appropriate behavior d. A and C ANSWER: a 28. Why would you not want to use money (e.g., quarters) as tokens in a token economy for juvenile delinquents in a residential treatment program? a. they may not know the value of money b. theft may become a problem c. counterfeiting may become a problem d. they might lose it easily ANSWER: b 29. A wide variety of back-up reinforcers is best to use in a token economy because : a. satiation is more likely to occur b. satiation is less likely to occur c. it is more likely that there will be something that is reinforcing for everybody in the program d. B and C ANSWER: d 30. Fading the use of tokens in a token economy:

a. is started shortly after the person begins the program b. increases the chance that the behavior change will generalize from the token economy to the natural environment c. should be avoided because it make the token economy less effective d. A and B ANSWER: b 31. In a token economy, tokens may be taken away following a problem behavior to decrease the behavior. This is a called a(n) ________________ procedure. ANSWER: response cost 32. Provide 3 examples of items that can be used as tokens. ________________ ANSWER: stickers, poker chips, buttons 33. A change agent should always deliver the tokens ________________ the desirable behavior. ANSWER: immediately after 34. The change agent should provide ________________ to the individual while delivering the tokens for appropriate behavior. ANSWER: praise 35. In a token economy tokens are exchanged for _________________________. ANSWER: backup reinforcers 36. In a token economy, a(n) __________________ is delivered immediately after the occurrence of a desirable target behavior. ANSWER: token 37. In a token economy, a token should be delivered immediately after the occurrence of ____________________. ANSWER: desirable behaviors 38. In a response cost component of a token economy, a token is ____________________ after the occurrence of an undesirable target behavior. ANSWER: taken away 39. Tokens are _______________ reinforcers. ANSWER: conditioned 40. Tokens are conditioned reinforcers because they are paired with ___________________ reinforcers. ANSWER: backup 41. A __________________ is a behavior modification procedure in which conditioned reinforcers called tokens are used to strengthen desirable behaviors in individuals. ANSWER: token economy

42. A token must be tangible, practical, and convenient to carry and dispense. a. True b. Fals e ANSWER: True 43. Clients may accumulate tokens but not keep them in their possession. a. True b. Fals e ANSWER: Fals e 44. The effectiveness of a token as a reinforcer depends on the back-up reinforcers. a. True b. Fals e ANSWER: True 45. Nutritious meals and training activities are good examples of back-up reinforcers. a. True b. Fals e ANSWER: Fals e 46. Most often the token exchange rate remains stagnant throughout the token economy program. a. True b. Fals e ANSWER: Fals e 47. Token economies always use a response cost procedure. a. True b. Fals e ANSWER: Fals e 48. When a response cost procedure is included, it should be introduced before the token economy has been in place for a period of time. a. True b. Fals e ANSWER: Fals e 49. When a response cost procedure is included, it should be introduced after the token economy has been in place for a

period of time. a. True b. Fals e ANSWER: True 50. There is typically a delay between when the target behavior occurs and when the tokens are given. a. True b. Fals e ANSWER: Fals e 51. A specific time and place is chosen for exchanging tokens for back up reinforcers. a. True b. Fals e ANSWER: True 52. What is the purpose of a token economy? ANSWER The purpose of a token economy is to strengthen individuals’ desirable behavior that : occurs too infrequently and to decrease their undesirable behaviors in a structured treatment environment or educational setting. 53. How does a token become a conditioned reinforcer? ANSWER A token is an object that is paired with other reinforcers, and therefore becomes a : conditioned reinforcer. 54. Why wouldn’t the use of pencils in a school setting be an acceptable item for a token? ANSWER: Because the tokens should not be available from any other source other than the change agent. 55. Why is it important for clients to earn enough tokens to exchange for back-up reinforcers in the early phases of the token economy? ANSWER It is important to ensure that the individuals earn enough tokens in the early phases of : the token economy so that they can exchange them for the backup reinforcers on a regular basis. In this way, the tokens acquire their value as a conditioned reinforcer quickly. 56. Why is it important for a response cost procedure to not result in a loss of all tokens? ANSWER The loss of all tokens through response cost will negate the positive reinforcement of : the desirable behaviors, because the individual does not have tokens to exchange for backup reinforcers. In addition, if an individual loses all of the accumulated tokens through response cost, problem behaviors may continue because the individual has nothing to lose. 57. Describe 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages involved in the use of a token economy. ANSWER The advantages of a token economy are that: : Tokens can be used to reinforce the target behavior immediately after it occurs A token economy is highly structured, therefore, desirable target behaviors are often

reinforced on a more consistent basis Tokens are generalized conditioned reinforcers because they are paired with a variety of other reinforcers Tokens are easy to dispense and easy for the recipients to accumulate Token reinforcement can be quantified easily and, thus, different behaviors can receive a greater or lesser magnitude of reinforcement Response cost is easier to implement in a token economy because the recipient has accumulated token that may be removed contingent on the occurrence of the problem behavior The recipient can learn the skills involved in planning for the future by saving tokens for larger purchases. The disadvantages involve the use of a token economy include the time and effort involved in organizing and conducting the program and the cost of purchasing the backup reinforcers. Staff training and management are also issues, especially when the token economy has complex components or when it is conducted on a large scale....