Token Economy Research Articles

Decentralized token economy theory (DeTEcT): token pricing, stability and governance for token economies

Decentralized token economy theory (DeTEcT): token pricing, stability and governance for token economies

Provider Self-Reported Use and Usefulness of Intervention Strategies for Externalizing Behaviors in Youths with ASD

ABSTRACT Objective To examine predictors of implementation and perceived usefulness of four empirically supported strategies for treating externalizing behavior in youths with ASD. Method Participants were 557 providers in the United States with experience treating externalizing behavior in youths with ASD. Generalized estimating equations were used to determine whether self-reported use and usefulness of four empirically supported intervention strategies (functional communication training, functional behavior analysis, visual tools/supports, token economy) were predicted by key provider characteristics: professional discipline, experience, and practice specialization (across three indices) in ASD. Post-hoc contrasts were performed to identify provider groups reporting the greatest use and usefulness of the four strategies. Results Strategies were most often used by providers with behavioral backgrounds, though perceived usefulness of strategies varied by providers’ professional discipline. Compared to providers with more than 10 years of experience, less experienced providers endorsed the highest average use and usefulness of almost all strategies. Regarding ASD practice specialization, a lower volume of ASD cases, treating fewer youths with ASD over a 5-year period, and having a higher proportion of practice time working with youths with ASD reported were associated with greater use and usefulness of the strategies. Conclusions Empirically supported strategies are widely used by and perceived as useful by providers who treat youths with ASD and co-occurring externalizing behaviors. Use and usefulness varies based on provider discipline, experience, and ASD practice specialization.

Blockchain solutions for scientific paper peer review: a systematic mapping of the literature

PurposeThis paper presents a review of the state of the art on the application of blockchain and smart contracts to the peer-review process of scientific papers. The paper seeks to analyse how the main characteristics of the existing blockchain solutions in this field to detect opportunities for the improvement of future applications.Design/methodology/approachA systematic review of the literature on the subject was carried out in three databases recognized by the research community (IEEE Xplore, Scopus and Web of Science) and the Frontiers in Blockchain journal. A total of 1,967 articles were initially found, and after the exclusion process, the 26 remaining articles were classified according to the following dimensions: System Type, Open Access, Review Type, Reviewer Incentive, Token Economy, Blockchain Access, Blockchain Identification, Blockchain Used, Paper Storage, Anonymity and Maturity of the solution.FindingsResults show that the solutions are normally concerned on offering incentives to the reviewers' work (often monetary). Other common general preferences among the solutions are the adoption of open reviews, the use of Ethereum, the implementation of publishing ecosystems and the use of InterPlanetary File System to the storage of the papers.Originality/valueThere are currently no studies covering the main aspects of blockchain solutions in the field of scientific peer review. The present study provides an overall review of the topic, summarizing important information on the current research and helping new adopters to develop solutions grounded on the existing literature.

Implementation of Specifications Grading in an Upper-Division Chemical Biology Lecture Course

ABSTRACT Specifications grading is a student-centered assessment method that enables flexibility and opportunities for revision. Here, we describe the first known full implementation of specifications grading in an upper-division chemical biology course. Due to the rapid development of relevant knowledge in this discipline, the overarching goal of this class is to prepare students to interpret and communicate about current research. In the past, a conventional points-based assessment method made it challenging to ensure that satisfactory standards for student work were consistently met, particularly for comprehensive written assignments. Specifications grading was chosen because the core tenet requires students to demonstrate minimum learning objectives to achieve a passing grade and complete more content of increased cognitive complexity to achieve higher grades. This strict adherence to determining grades based on demonstrated skills is balanced by opportunities for revision or flexibility in assignment deadlines. These options are made manageable for the instructors through the use of a token economy with a limited number of tokens that students can choose to use when needed. Over the duration of the course, a validated survey on self-efficacy showed slight positive trends, student comprehension and demonstrated skills qualitatively improved, and final grade distributions were not negatively affected. Instructors noticed that discussions with students were more focused on course concepts and feedback, rather than grades, while overall grading time was reduced. Responses to university-administered student feedback surveys revealed some self-reported reduction in anxiety, as well as increased confidence in managing time and course material. Recommendations are provided on how to continue to improve the overall teaching and learning experience for both instructors and students.

Token Ekonomi Untuk Mengatasi Enuresis Non Organik Pada Anak

Enuresis is bed wetting behavior experienced by individuals who have gone through the developmental age of toilet training. This condition makes individuals and those around them experience problems in dealing with enuresis. The behavioral approach is an approach used to change maladaptive behavior into adaptive behavior. This approach is an effective therapy for children to carry out agreed behaviors to obtain the expected behavior. The token economy is a behavioral approach to giving tokens (signs) that focuses on modifying behavior to increase expected behavior and reduce unexpected behavior. Obtained tokens are collected in an agreed upon amount to be exchanged for prizes. Children with enuretic behavior can modify behavior using token economy techniques to anticipate enuretic behavior. The results of this study explain that the token economy can help overcome non-organic enuresis in children. Children are able to make changes in behavior according to the contract that has been planned together to avoid enuresis (wetting the bed).

The Role of Token Economy Therapy in Reducing the Psychological Burden of Formal Caregivers

Background: The responsibilities of providing care and support for individuals suffering from any form of illness sometimes impose psychological burdens of the care providers. Objective: The major concern of this study was to examine whether token economy therapy (TET) can effectively reduce the psychological burden of formal caregivers in Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was adopted. Two secondary health centres in Ibadan were purposively selected, while paid caregivers were randomized into intervention (15) and control (15) groups. Two hypotheses were formulated and tested at a 0.05 significance level using Analysis of Covariance as a statistical analysis. Results: Findings revealed that the main effect of treatment was significant on the psychological burden (F (1, 29) = 725.492, partial; ῆ2 = 0.962). Furthermore, participants in the TET group had a post-treatment mean score of (χ=70.410) and those in the control group had (χ=31.335). Conclusion: The study concludes that TET was effective in reducing the psychological burden among health caregivers in state hospitals in Ibadan and was recommended as a treatment modality to reduce psychological burden.

CryptoArcade: A Cloud Gaming System With Blockchain-Based Token Economy

Cloud gaming is a novel service provisioning technology that offloads parts of game software from terminals to powerful cloud infrastructures. However, the commercial charging model for cloud gaming is still in its infancy. In this paper, we reveal the deficiencies of existing cloud gaming pricing models and propose CryptoArcade, a token-based cloud gaming system that adopts cryptocurrency as a payment method. Using cryptocurrency, CryptoArcade provides a transparent and resource-aware pricing method, enabling a time irrelevant silent payment on the floating price to protect players' interests, which avoids the Quality of Experience (QoE) degradation caused by traditional dynamic models. While CryptoArcade can solve the problem of pricing strategies, players still face decision headaches caused by having commission overhead and pre-deposit amounts on blockchains. To better understand players' trading behaviors in this decision-making, we consider a marketplace where players trade tokens through smart contracts before gaming sessions. Considering the uncertainty of future token consumption, we use Prospect Theory (PT) in modeling and obtain the optimal solution in closed form. When comparing with the benchmark expect utility theory (EUT), we show that with the same external factors, EUT players are more likely to buy tokens than PT ones.

Robot swarms neutralize harmful Byzantine robots using a blockchain-based token economy.

Through cooperation, robot swarms can perform tasks or solve problems that a single robot from the swarm could not perform/solve by itself. However, it has been shown that a single Byzantine robot (such as a malfunctioning or malicious robot) can disrupt the coordination strategy of the entire swarm. Therefore, a versatile swarm robotics framework that addresses security issues in inter-robot communication and coordination is urgently needed. Here, we show that security issues can be addressed by setting up a token economy between the robots. To create and maintain the token economy, we used blockchain technology, originally developed for the digital currency Bitcoin. The robots were given crypto tokens that allowed them to participate in the swarm's security-critical activities. The token economy was regulated via a smart contract that decided how to distribute crypto tokens among the robots depending on their contributions. We designed the smart contract so that Byzantine robots soon ran out of crypto tokens and could therefore no longer influence the rest of the swarm. In experiments with up to 24 physical robots, we demonstrated that our smart contract approach worked: The robots could maintain blockchain networks, and a blockchain-based token economy could be used to neutralize the destructive actions of Byzantine robots in a collective-sensing scenario. In experiments with more than 100 simulated robots, we studied the scalability and long-term behavior of our approach. The obtained results demonstrate the feasibility and viability of blockchain-based swarm robotics.

IMPROVING COGNITIVE SOCIAL-SKILLS BY BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION TECHNIQUES: A STUDY ON ISLAMIC PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN INDONESIA

Student behaviour, in general, is still a problem. Many students still need to be responsible for school assignments and do not do homework or other assignments. Concern for the environment is still very low. Like they were throwing trash in its place. Therefore, the ability of the teacher to intervene in modifying student behaviour is essential. This research was carried out to provide Behavior Modification Models for improving children's social skills. It was divided into four parts: (1) a preliminary study, (2) a workshop on behaviour modification, (3) a field test on the behaviour modification models and (4) improvement to the models following the test results. The participants consisted of 225 Islamic elementary school students in Indonesia. The data were examined by SEM (Structural Equation Modeling). The students' skills were developed using behaviour modification techniques, namely modelling, reinforcement, token economy, punishment, prompt, relaxation and shaping. The result suggested the importance of cognitive process (awareness) and learning contracts through class discussion for improving children's social skills. An interesting finding is that there is a significant increase in the application of behaviour modification techniques when students are involved in thinking and being involved in determining activities or actions that disturb the class and the consequences that will be given if students commit several violations in class through contract learning or agreement techniques, modelling, reinforcement, token economy, punishment, time out, relaxation and awareness of cognition.

Token Economy for People With Severe Mental Illness: A Narrative Review of the Literature

Background: People with chronic mental illness have long been rejected from society and lost their self-identity and self-efficacy due to individual obstacles, such as continuous negative symptoms, lack of motivation, or social obstacles, like stigma, which reduce their self-confidence and prevent them from engaging in healthy activity patterns. One of the behavioral therapy methods used to increase the motivation of people with severe mental illness is token economy. Objectives: The purpose of this narrative review was to review and investigate the impact of the token economy on people with severe mental illness. Methods: A search for studies published from 2002 to 2022 in PubMed and Google Scholar databases was conducted using the keywords “token economy”, “token reinforcement”, “contingency management”, “severe mental disorder”, “serious mental illness”, “chronic psychiatric disorder”, and “participation”. Results: In the initial search, 92 articles were obtained, and after reviewing and rejecting duplicates, 44 articles related to severe mental illness and token economy remained. Finally, 15 articles met the inclusion criteria and were selected for review. token economy can be an effective method in improving the performance of daily life activities, reducing the symptoms of mental illnesses and avoiding drugs, reducing alcohol consumption, and quitting smoking Conclusion: token economy can be an effective method in improving the performance of daily life activities, reducing the symptoms of mental illnesses, drug abstinence, reducing alcohol use, and quitting smoking, but in reducing violence, the results of the studies were contradictory. It is recommended to carry out wider studies on the impact of the token economy method on the occupational performance and participation of chronic mental patients.

Using Precision Teaching to Improve Typically Developing Student's Mathematical Skills Via Teleconferencing.

This study evaluated the effects of Precision Teaching in improving typically developing students' mathematical skills when delivered via teleconferencing in India. Four students received Precision Teaching, while nine acted as control participants. Precision teaching involved instruction in three mathematical skills; two prerequisite skills and the primary skill of mixed addition and subtraction facts. Instruction included untimed practice, timed practice, goal-setting, graphing, and a token economy. Participants who received Precision Teaching received ten practice sessions for the prerequisite skills and 55 sessions for the primary skill. The results demonstrated improvements in the prerequisite skills of varied magnitude and considerable improvements in the primary skill, which were maintained above baseline performance levels. In addition, those who received Precision Teaching were below the 15th percentile rank at the initial assessment and above the 65th percentile at the post-intervention assessment in the math fluency subtest of the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement-Third Edition. Control participants did not demonstrate similar improvements. Results suggest that Precision Teaching could produce accelerated outcomes even when delivered via teleconferencing. Therefore, it could be a valuable system for helping students ameliorate potential learning losses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Assessment and Treatments of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

Psychiatrists and psychologists rely on the classification systems for mental disorders, just like a systematic classification of physical illnesses. This article focuses on one of the mental disorders that haunt many people around the world and psychiatrists: schizophrenia. Three explanations of schizophrenia will be discussed: the genetic explanation, biochemical explanation and cognitive explanation. The genetic explanation believes schizophrenia can be inherited; the biochemical explanation indicates that the brains of schizophrenia patients produce more dopamine; the cognitive explanation declares that wrong thinking processes cause mental disorders. Furthermore, this article also provides the according treatments using different measures: biochemical (psychotics and atypical psychotics), electro-convulsive therapy, token economy and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Finally, this article evaluates the involved treatment measures including their respective limitation, and points out the future research direction----find a comprehensive approach that combines the advantages of the available treatments and eliminate limitations of the existing treatments.

A Comparative Evaluation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Behavioral Parent Training in Treating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

The article summarizes the popular treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental disorder characterized as possessing two behavioral issues: inattentiveness and impulsiveness or hyperactivity. An individual with the first subtype of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is recognized as having six or more symptoms related to inattention and less than six symptoms of hyperactivity in a duration of six months or more. By comparing cognitive behavioral therapy and behavioral parent training in treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a validity and effectiveness declaration is drawn on both therapies. In the scope of this article, cognitive behavioral therapy, and parenting skills training on the consequences of childrens behaviors will be examined and compared. It also provides some aspects of the differences for further studies. Cognitive behavioral therapy and consequence-based behavioral parent training are two effective and adequate treatments for ADHD. While the former consists of the section of planning and organizing, reducing distractibility and applying adaptive thinking, the latter centralizes on the idea of positive reinforcement where parents can choose techniques such as the token economy and praising to motivate particular behaviors.

Common Practices used to Establish and Implement Token Economies in Clinical and Instructional Settings: A Survey of BACB Certificants.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40617-023-00800-5.

Effects of Token Economy Intervention on Hospitalized Patients With Schizophrenia

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of token economy intervention on the clinical characteristics and global function of patients with schizophrenia.Methods: From June 1, 2022 to September 1, 2022, token economy intervention was conducted for hospitalized patients with schizophrenia in a mental hospital. Assessments were conducted before and after the intervention. Clinical Global Impression-Schizophrenia scale (CGI-SCH), Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale (SQLS), Insight Scale for Psychosis (ISP), and Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES) were used to evaluate clinical characteristics. World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) was used for global functional assessment.Results: A total of 51 patients were included in the study. Through token economy intervention, depressive (p=0.001), cognitive symptom domain scores (p<0.001) in CGI-SCH, and SQLS score were significantly decreased (p=0.044). In the WHODAS evaluated by the clinician, the scores of self-care (p=0.012), life activities (p=0.006), and participation in society (p=0.040) decreased significantly.Conclusion: It was confirmed that token economy intervention had a positive effect on depressive symptoms, cognitive symptoms, quality of life, self-care function, daily living function, and social participation function in hospitalized patients with schizophrenia.

Developing a Program Model for School-Based Day Treatment for Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Difficulties

School-based day treatment is an intensive mental health service for children with social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties. Research on day treatment is scarce and descriptions of program models are lacking. We used stimulated recall interviews to explore the moment-to-moment processes and strategies of classroom staff in a day treatment program for children in kindergarten and Grade 1. Several processes and strategies used by staff emerged from the thematic analysis of the interviews. These included a process of individualized intervention, characterized by a continual and cyclical process of attunement, responsiveness, assessment, and evaluation, using a team-based approach, noticing positives about children, a climate of positive relationships, staff regulating their own emotions, being flexible while also being firm and consistent, and seeing children from a developmental perspective. More specific strategies used by staff (e.g., token economy) also emerged from the interviews. Implications for future research and teacher training are discussed.

Traversing the uncommon boulevard: entrepreneurial trajectory of decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs)

ABSTRACT Blockchain technology has revolutionised the ownership structures and business models of young companies, leading to the emergence of new digital entrepreneurship in innovative digital companies known as decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs). This study examines the influence of blockchain use on the entrepreneurial structure and business models of DAOs. Following an inductive approach guided by the underlying theoretical framework of a nonfungible token (NFT) enabled entrepreneurship and the token economy business model, we conducted a qualitative content analysis of /the whitepapers of 22 selected DAOs obtained from the DeepDAO platform. The results reveal that blockchain assists the growth of digital companies by decentralising their ownership structure and improving their value propositions through NFT and a smart contract-enabled consensus mechanism. However, market uncertainties and the non-liquidity of tokens were identified as significant barriers to implementing DAOs. Three propositions emerged from this study with meaningful contributions to the theory and practice of entrepreneurship.

EFEKTIVITAS TOKEN ECONOMY DALAM MENINGKATKAN KEDISIPLINAN SANTRI MENJAGA KEBERSIHAN

The token economy or valuable card technique is one of the many techniques in the behavioral approach. The token economy method is very similar to what is encountered in real life, for example, workers are paid for their work. The purpose of this research is to describe the effectiveness of the token economy in increasing the discipline of students in maintaining cleanliness. The type of research used is (action research). Based on the results of research regarding the lack of discipline in maintaining cleanliness and assistance as well as special handling using token economy techniques, it can be concluded that; In cycle I, special assistance and handling by using the token economy, there were a few changes that were still far from perfect. In cycle II, special assistance and handling carried out by researchers using token economy techniques can increase the discipline of students in maintaining cleanliness. Thus special assistance and handling using the token economy technique is effective in increasing the discipline of students in maintaining cleanliness

EFEKTIVITAS TOKEN ECONOMY DALAM MENINGKATKAN KEDISIPLINAN SANTRI MENJAGA KEBERSIHAN

The token economy or valuable card technique is one of the many techniques in the behavioral approach. The token economy method is very similar to what is encountered in real life, for example, workers are paid for their work. The purpose of this research is to describe the effectiveness of the token economy in increasing the discipline of students in maintaining cleanliness. The type of research used is (action research). Based on the results of research regarding the lack of discipline in maintaining cleanliness and assistance as well as special handling using token economy techniques, it can be concluded that; In cycle I, special assistance and handling by using the token economy, there were a few changes that were still far from perfect. In cycle II, special assistance and handling carried out by researchers using token economy techniques can increase the discipline of students in maintaining cleanliness. Thus special assistance and handling using the token economy technique is effective in increasing the discipline of students in maintaining cleanliness

The Effect of Token Economies on Student Behavior in the Preschool Classroom: A Meta-Analysis

There has been a recent push in the literature to identify and use more evidence-based practices for positive behavioral supports for challenging student behaviors in the classroom environment. Further, interest in targeting early education environments such as preschool has been growing given the persistence of behavioral difficulties in the absence of early and effective intervention (Campbell & Ewing, 1990; Kazdin, 1987; Powell et al., 2006; Stormont, 2002). Two previous meta-analyses (Maggin et al., 2011; Soares et al., 2016) provided some initial support for effectiveness of token economies with challenging student behavior; however, the inclusion of the preschool setting was limited and both studies used older versions of design standards to evaluate the quality of studies in the literature. The present study served to extend those meta-analyses by targeting preschool classrooms. Further, the current study included the most recent What Works Clearinghouse Design Standards to evaluate whether token economies meet criteria as an evidence-based practice. Ten studies were included in the final analyses. Two sets of effect sizes were calculated: Baseline-Corrected Tau and Hedge’s g. An omnibus effect size showed an overall large effect; however, similar to previous meta-analyses, several methodological concerns were identified. Moderator analyses for several variables were conducted; however, no moderator analyses were significant. Limitations and future directions were discussed.