Final answer:
Token economies are most effective in maintaining behavior changes after the treatment program when they gradually fade out token reinforcement. This method helps transition the behavior from external reinforcement to being self-sustained. Switching to a partial reinforcement schedule is also beneficial for the longevity of the new behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
Effectiveness of Token Economies in Maintaining Behavior Post-Treatment
For token economies to maintain behavior changes after the end of the treatment program, it is crucial to have strategies in place to ensure that the new behavior persists. Among the strategies, the most effective for long-term maintenance of behavior is B) Gradually fade out token reinforcement. This method involves slowly decreasing the frequency of token reinforcement over time, which aids the transition from behavior that is externally reinforced to one that is self-sustained. Immediate token reinforcement is essential for establishing the behavior, and variable ratios of reinforcement can make behaviors very resistant to extinction.
Continuous reinforcement is the most rapid method to establish a new behavior by reinforcing it every time it occurs. However, to promote the persistence of the behavior when reinforcement is no longer available, it is beneficial to switch to a partial reinforcement schedule. This can involve varying the number of responses or the amount of time between reinforcements. Thus, the effect will not be as abrupt as would be with continuous reinforcement when the reinforcers stop coming. If tokens fade out too abruptly or if the schedule of reinforcement is too predictable, as in fixed interval or fixed ratio schedules, extinction may occur more rapidly once reinforcement stops.