Final answer:
Positive reinforcement techniques in a token economy encourage student participation by rewarding them with tokens for positive behaviors, which can be exchanged for rewards. This increases the likelihood of these behaviors being repeated, as the consistent connection between behavior and reinforcement makes it effective.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a token economy, positive reinforcement techniques encourage students to participate by rewarding them with tokens for their participation. When students exhibit desired behaviors, such as participating in class or completing assignments, they receive tokens that can later be exchanged for various rewards. This system is built upon the principles of operant conditioning, particularly the concept of positive reinforcement, which involves adding a desirable stimulus to increase a behavior. Over time, the association between the behavior and the reward strengthens the likelihood of the behavior being repeated. Examples of token economies can be seen in different settings, including schools and therapy settings, where they have been shown to improve both academic performance and social behaviors.
The use of token economies and behavior modification is effective because the reinforcement must matter to the child and be administered consistently. This aligns with the work of B.F. Skinner, who was a proponent of using operant conditioning to influence student behavior. Studies have indicated that when such positive reinforcement strategies are applied, such as paying second-grade students to read books, there are measurable increases in desirable outcomes like reading comprehension.