Evaluation of Token Economy Programmes

The TEP can be administered by anyone who works at the prison without the need for specialist training. This means that they are fairly cheap to run.

Hobbs and Holt investigated the effectiveness of TEPs with boys in a correctional institution. Behaviours like rule following, cooperation and non-violent behaviour were reinforced by tokens which could be exchanged for other rewards. It improved targeted behaviour in the cottages that took part but there was no change in the control group who didn’t take part.

TEPs can be adjusted to suit each individual. It can clearly be focussed and it isn’t a form of group therapy. Rather each individual is rewarded differently and so it is more likely to be successful as it can address specific difficulties.

A negative of TEPs is that staff can choose to reward behaviour to make their life easier, not to benefit inmates. Hobbs and Holt observed this with ‘line behaviour’ when the boys were walking to meals – this was convenient for the staff but it didn’t help the boys so this use of power is unethical.