Since its implementation in 2005, the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice's (DJJ) Behavior Management System had been employing a
token economy system using a point card that primarily focused on negative consequences with little or no positive reinforcement.
Another method is the "
token economy system," in which students who behave appropriately or complete tasks are rewarded with tokens they can trade for prizes.
Token economy system: The system enables a child to earn points or tokens for his/her appropriate behaviors.
Token economy system plus response cost: tokens are taken back from participants for rule violation and participants can receive additional opportunities for regain tokens.
For example, Rawson (1978), as well as Cantwell and Carlson (1983), found that positive social reinforcement combined with a
token economy system effectively improved two aspects associated with depression, self-control of behavior and academic performance.
Analysis of outcome variables of a token economy system in a state psychiatric hospital: A program evaluation.
Stuck for words: combining social skills training with a token economy system for adolescents.
A response cost is used in most
token economy systems if there are undesirable behaviors (e.g., spitting, fighting) that potentially may compete with the desired behaviors (e.g., sharing, playing gently with toys) (Miltenberger, 2000).