Special Education Strategy: Contingency Contracts and Token Reinforcement/Economy

1. Contingency Contracts
and
Token Reinforcement
BY ANN VITUG
MA SPED 2

2. Contingency Contract
Written agreement specifying the
relationship between behaviors and their
consequences
Signed by the client
Includes reinforcement and punishment

3. Contingency Contract
COMPONENTS
DESCRIPTION OF THE TASK
Who will perform the task/receive
reward
What is the task to be performed
When the task must be completed
How well the task must be completed

4. Contingency Contract
COMPONENTS
REWARD
Who will judge task completion
What is the reward
When the reward will be delivered
How much of the reward the person will
receive

5. Contingency Contract
COMPONENTS
TASK RECORD
A place to record progress
Sets occasion for regular review of
the contract
Helps individual remain focused
and gives feedback on
performance

6. Contingency Contract
STEPS TO DEVELOPING ONE
1. Hold a meeting to discuss how
contracts work, goals, etc.
2. Identify tasks individuals can and
already do perform
3. Identify potential contracting tasks
4. Identify potential rewards
5. Write the contract

7. Contingency Contract
HOW DO THEY WORK?
Typically a package that involves:
Reinforcement
Rules
Response prompting
Can even be a self-contract

8. Contingency Contract
Client is an active participant in its
drafting
Contract provides structure for
interactions, opportunities to practice
negotiating and cooperation

11. THINGS TO CONSIDER:
Is the behavior already in the learner’s
repertoire?
Does the behavior result in a
permanent product?
What is the reading ability of the
learner?
In evaluating contracts, focus on the
objective measure of the target
behavior

12. Token Reinforcement or Token
Economy
A token economy is a system where an
individual earns tokens for targeted
behaviors. Once the individual has earned
a pretermined amount of tokens, he/she
can trade it in for an item or activity that
they really want.

13. Token Reinforcement or Token
Economy
A system used to motivate people to
perform socially appropriate behavior
while refraining from performing socially
inappropriate behavior.

17. attending to his tutor before the delivery of an instruction;
with “attending” defined as making eye contact with the tutor
for at least 3 seconds.
laminated “star stickers” placed on a “token board”.
a 90 second break from academic tasks where he could play
with preferred toys of his choice.
Adam received 1 token every single time he engaged in the
target behavior (made eye contact for 3 seconds).
a total of 10 tokens were required before Adam could earn a
backup reinforcer.
this was done immediately after 10 tokens had been earned.
It was completed at the classroom desk
*Example only: Lose tokens for whining, not listening to
teacher

18. Token Economy
Implementation
Describe the procedure to learners
Model the procedure for token delivery
Model the procedure for token
exchange

19. Token Economy
Withdrawing the token economy
Plan for maintenance and generalization
Pair tokens with social approval
Gradually increase number of responses required to earn tokens
Gradually decrease length of time it is in place
Gradually increase number of “natural” reinforcers and fade out
use of contrived reinforcers
Systematically increase price of more desirable items
Fade physical evidence of token over time

22. THANK YOU!
REFERENCES:
http://www.educateautism.com/token-economy.
html#.UuKeBfawoy5
http://creativelearningfun.com/2012/03/what-works-for-
us-behavioral-token-system.html