ABAT Reinforcement Systems and Token Economies Flashcards

A student earns tokens for completing math problems but stops responding when tokens are no longer exchangeable for backup reinforcers. This illustrates that tokens function as:

Answer: Conditioned reinforcers

Tokens are conditioned (secondary) reinforcers that acquire value through pairing with backup reinforcers (primary or other conditioned reinforcers).

In a token economy, a child consistently hoards tokens rather than exchanging them. The BEST initial intervention is to:

Answer: Shorten the exchange interval so tokens are cashed in more frequently

Shortening the exchange interval reduces the delay to reinforcement, making the backup reinforcers more motivating and preventing hoarding.

Which schedule of reinforcement produces the highest overall rate of responding but makes the behavior most vulnerable to extinction?

Answer: Fixed ratio

Fixed ratio schedules produce high rates of responding but also a post-reinforcement pause and faster extinction compared to variable schedules.

A teacher wants to use differential reinforcement to increase a student's on-task behavior. Which procedure delivers reinforcement only when the student is on-task at the moment of observation?

Answer: DRO

Differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) delivers reinforcement when the target behavior has not occurred during a set interval, which at the moment of delivery means the student is engaging in other (often on-task) behavior.

During token economy implementation, a practitioner notices that some backup reinforcers have lost their reinforcing value for a learner. This is MOST likely due to:

Answer: Satiation

Satiation occurs when a learner has had excessive access to a reinforcer, reducing its effectiveness as a motivating operation.

A behavioral technician provides praise immediately after every correct response during discrete trial training. Over time, the learner appears indifferent to the praise. To address this, the technician should FIRST:

Answer: Conduct a preference assessment to identify more effective reinforcers

A preference assessment helps identify currently potent reinforcers when existing ones have lost effectiveness due to satiation or inadequate value.

Which term describes the process by which a neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned reinforcer through repeated pairing with an established reinforcer?

Answer: Stimulus-stimulus pairing

Stimulus-stimulus pairing involves presenting a neutral stimulus immediately before or alongside an established reinforcer until the neutral stimulus acquires reinforcing properties.