Token Economy Case Study

A token economy is a method of behavior modification intended to increase desirable behaviors and decrease undesirable behaviors with the use of tokens. Individuals receive tokens immediately after displaying desirable behavior. Individuals collect these tokens and later exchange them for a meaningful object or privilege (Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2007).
Anthony and Mia are typically developing seven-year-old twins whose parents expressed concern regarding the children’s mathematical abilities. More specifically, the children are having problems adding and subtracting multi-digit whole numbers. Both children are students in the second grade and attend a public school. It is suggested that the children engage in a token economy program. However, the school that they attend does not allow such programs to be implemented on an individual basis. Therefore, the parents will implement the program in their home environment.
A token is anything that is visible and countable. Tokens should preferably be attractive, easy to carry or store and dispense, and
According the BACB (2010), behavior analysts must avoid or minimize the use of harmful reinforcers. Because ice cream is used as a backup reinforcer, it is important to minimize the use of the ice cream as a reinforcer. Therefore, the children can be limited to exchanging their tokens for one scoop of ice cream daily. In addition, when program modifications are necessary, the behavior analyst must inform those involved of the modifications (BACB, 2010). When implementing a token economy, the ultimate goal is to maintain the behavior change without the token economy. Behavior analyst will typically plan how to remove the program before implementing the program. Because of the children’s age, it would be best to explain these modifications as they are occurring throughout the program (Cooper, Heron, & Heward,