What this study is
Matson and Boisjoli's 2009 paper is a systematic review of the research on token economies — reward systems in which individuals earn tokens (points, chips, stickers) for desired behaviors and exchange them for preferred rewards — specifically for children and adults with intellectual disability and autism.
The review synthesized decades of research on token economies to assess how well they work, for whom, and under what conditions — providing the most comprehensive evidence base available for this type of motivation system.
What is a token economy?
A token economy is a form of positive reinforcement in which tokens serve as conditioned reinforcers — they have no intrinsic value but acquire value through their association with backup reinforcers (preferred items, activities, or privileges). When a person performs a target behavior, they receive a token. When they accumulate enough tokens, they exchange them for a backup reinforcer.
Token economies have been used in psychiatric hospitals, schools, correctional facilities, and homes since the 1960s. In autism intervention, they became particularly prominent as a way to bridge the delay between behavior and reward — especially for rewards that can't be delivered immediately (screen time, outings, larger treats).
What the researchers found
Token economies consistently increase desired behaviors
Across the studies reviewed, token economies reliably increased target behaviors — including on-task behavior, skill performance, compliance with instructions, and participation in learning activities. The effect was consistent across different settings (home, school, clinic) and across age groups.
Effectiveness is robust across autism severity levels
Token economies showed benefits for children across the autism spectrum — from those with significant intellectual disability to those with higher cognitive functioning. While the specific implementation (types of tokens, backup reinforcers, exchange schedules) may need to be adjusted for different individuals, the basic mechanism appears broadly applicable.
The backup reinforcer is the critical variable
The review found that the effectiveness of a token economy depends heavily on the value of the backup reinforcers — what the tokens are eventually exchanged for. Token economies failed or underperformed when backup reinforcers were not individually tailored to the child's actual preferences. Preference assessment before implementing a token economy significantly improves outcomes.
Fading is possible but requires planning
Research showed that token economies can be successfully faded — gradually reducing the density of token delivery and increasing the exchange ratio — without losing the behavioral gains. This is important for long-term use: the goal is always to move toward more naturally occurring reinforcement.
Why token economies work for autism specifically
The review identified several reasons token economies are particularly well-suited for autistic children:
- Visual and concrete. Tokens provide a tangible, visible representation of progress that many autistic children find motivating and easier to understand than abstract promises of future reward.
- Predictable and rule-based. The exchange system is explicit and consistent — earn X tokens, get Y reward. This predictability is especially valuable for children who do well with clear, rule-governed systems.
- Bridges the delay-of-reinforcement problem. Many meaningful rewards (outings, screen time, preferred activities) can't be delivered immediately after each correct response. Tokens solve this problem.
- Allows for a menu of backup reinforcers. Rather than relying on one reinforcer that may lose value through overexposure, a token economy supports access to a range of different backup reinforcers.
What it means for parents
The evidence from this review directly supports using a token economy at home for children with autism. Key practical takeaways:
- Identify backup reinforcers through careful observation before starting. The backup reinforcer is everything — if your child doesn't want what the tokens are buying, the system won't work.
- Start with a low exchange ratio — few tokens needed for a backup reinforcer — so your child quickly experiences the full cycle of earning and exchanging. This builds understanding of and buy-in to the system.
- Make tokens visual and tangible. A chart, a jar of coins, a star board — something your child can see filling up provides a stronger motivational signal than a number in a phone app alone.
- Plan for fading from the beginning. The goal is for behaviors to become maintained by natural consequences, not permanent dependence on tokens.
Limitations
- Many of the studies reviewed were case studies or single-subject designs — strong for demonstrating individual effects but limited for generalizability.
- The review was published in 2009; more recent research has further refined our understanding of token economy implementation for autism.
- Most studies focused on increasing desired behaviors; fewer examined token economies specifically for reducing challenging behaviors.
Full citation
Matson, J. L., & Boisjoli, J. A. (2009). The token economy for children with intellectual disability and/or autism: A review. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 30(2), 240–248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2008.04.001