Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Token Economy Practices in K-5 Educational Settings, 2000 to 2019

Abstract

Token economy systems have been widely used as an evidence-based classroom management strategy to reinforce and improve prosocial responses. While token economies have been widely applied to educational settings, there have been mixed results regarding the effectiveness depending on the classroom type. To better understand the components contributing to the effectiveness, the researchers analyzed 24 token economy studies conducted in general and special education classrooms from kindergarten to fifth grade between 2000 and 2019. Eight token economy components and effect sizes were identified for each study and compared across different classroom types. The results showed that the token economy intervention yielded large effect sizes for both general and special education classroom types. There were differences in the usage of token components including backup reinforcer types, token production rate, and exchange production rate based on classroom types. Implications for future research and practice for educators and clinicians are discussed.

Pengaruh Penerapan Teknik Token Ekonomi Terhadap Kemandirian Anak Usia 5-6 Tahun Di Tk Wahyu Kabupaten Gowa

“…Penelitian ini sejalan dengan penelitian model pembelajaran behavioristik yang menggunakan teknik token ekonomi di Taman Kanak-kanak yang diperoleh hasil penelitian yang menunjukkan model pembelajaran behavioristik melalui teknik token ekonomi secara signifikan meningkatkan perilaku anak pada kelompok eksperimen dibandingkan dengan anak yang menggunakan model pembelajaran konvensional 29 . Penelitian serupa menunjukkan bahwa intervensi ekonomi token menghasilkan ukuran efek yang besar untuk jenis kelas pendidikan umum dan khusus 30 Penelitian mengenai perilaku prososial anak yang meningkat pada kelompok A setelah diterapkan token ekonomi 31 . Kemudian penelitian mengenai meningkatnya perilaku active learning anak usia dini, diperoleh hasil yang berbeda antara kelompok kontrol yang diberikan teknik token ekonomi dengan anak yang diberikan pembelajaran konvensional, dimana kelompok eksperimen memiliki nilai signifikansi lebih tinggi dibandingkan kelompok kontrol 32 .…”

The Engaged Learners Program: Effects on Student Engagement During Small Group Reading Instruction

“…Third, a token economy system is a research-based practice in which students receive tokens (e.g., stickers, points) for appropriate behavior. These tokens are later exchanged for a preferred item or activity (e.g., Center on PBIS, 2022; DuPaul et al, 2011; Kim et al, 2022). Within token economies, rewards can be earned for each student based on their own behavior (independent group contingencies), the whole group based on one student’s behavior (dependent group contingencies), or the whole group based on the whole group’s behavior (interdependent group behavior; Cooper et al, 2020; Simonsen et al, 2008).…”

Implementation of Presession Pairing with Group Contingency for Children of Deaf Adults to Improve Classroom Behavior

“…Although the PSP intervention phase decreased off-task behavior for all participants, we added the independent GC to maximize the intervention effects [46]. For the independent GC, tokens were used as a conditioned reinforcer [47]. Each participant could earn up to five tokens during each instructional time when they met the teacher's set class-wide expectations and rules.…”