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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 5, 2025

A Treatment Package without Escape Extinction to Address Food Selectivity

A Treatment Package without Escape Extinction to Address Food Selectivity

Published on: August 21, 2015

Using a Token Economy to Treat Escape-Maintained Problem Behavior Without Extinction.

Natalie Andzik¹, Elle Smith², Nancy Neef²

¹Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, USA.

Behavior Modification

|October 21, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study shows that a delayed reinforcement token system can effectively reduce escape-maintained problem behavior in children with autism spectrum disorder without using extinction procedures. This approach improves compliance and reduces challenging behaviors in school and home settings.

Keywords:

compliance escape-maintained behavior school settings token economy

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Area of Science:

Behavioral Psychology
Applied Behavior Analysis
Autism Spectrum Disorder Research

Background:

Escape extinction procedures for problem behavior can be impractical and risky for practitioners.
Alternative strategies are needed to manage escape-maintained behaviors in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the effectiveness of a delayed reinforcement token system as an alternative to extinction for treating escape-maintained problem behavior in students with ASD.
To determine if extinction is a necessary component in reducing escape-maintained behaviors.

Main Methods:

A multiple probe design was used across four participants with ASD.
A delayed reinforcement token system was implemented, involving a 30-second break contingent on problem behaviors and tokens for compliance.
Intervention was conducted in both school and home settings.

Main Results:

All four participants demonstrated substantial increases in compliance.
Significant reductions in escape-maintained problem behavior were observed for all participants.
The token system proved effective in managing challenging behaviors.

Conclusions:

Extinction procedures are not essential for eliminating escape-maintained problem behavior in children with autism.
A delayed reinforcement token system offers a viable and effective alternative to extinction-based interventions.
This strategy can be successfully implemented in both educational and home environments.