FOX ET AL (1987)- TOKEN ECONOMY, HEALTH PROMOTION AT WORKSITES Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is a token economy?
A behavioural intervention based on the principles of operant conditioning. Individuals receive tokens (secondary reinforcers) for performing desired behaviors and exchanged them for primary reinforcers (e.g., tangible rewards or privileges), positively reinforcing healthy behaviours.
What was the aim of Fox et al (1987) studty
To investigate whether a token economy system could effectively reduce workpace injuries and improve safety performace in open-pit mining operations.
Main context- why was there a need to implement behavioural safety interventions?
- The enviroment was high-risk, making it ideal setting for a behavioural saftey intervention.
- Why was it high risk? mining industry is associated with hundreds and thousands of injuries annually. This affects time and money lost due to injuries.
What method was used in Fox et al (1987) study?
Field experiment (real-world setting– open-pit uranium and coal mines)
Where was the study located?
2 US open-pit mines (uranium mine/ coal mine)
What was the IV and DV of the setting?
IV- introduction of token economy system
DV- injury rates, costs and time lost due to injuries, safey behaviours.
Describe the sample of the study?
employees in both mines (occupying various roles)
Describe the 4 different experiemental groups in the study?
Group 1: Workers in the least hazardous jobs—spent at least 75% of their work time in the office.
Group 2: Workers included foremen, supervisors, technicians, and surveyors.
Group 3: Workers included mechanics, laborers and machinery operators.
Group 4: Workers in the most hazardous jobs included—electricians, scraper operator and fuel workers.
Summarise the procedures?
- Random allocation–ppts were randomly allocated into 4 groups based on job risk and number of lost time to injuries.
- Introduction of the token economy
- Penatlies/ loosing tokens
How did the employees loose tokens/ penalties?
Employee or group member had a lost-time injury.
Causing equitment damage
Not reporting accidents or injuries.
How did ppts earn tokens?
- Everyone in the group avoided injuries.
- Taking action that prevented a potential accident.
- Submitting and having a suggestion adopted by the company.
- Working a full month without any injuries that caused time off.
Results?
Significant reduction in lost-time injuries- 25% reduction in the number of work-related injuries.
Significant reduction in accident-related costs
long-term: Improvements were long-term and did not decline even after several years of using the system.
cost/benefit analysis-The money saved from fewer injuries was signficantly more than the costs of running the token economy
What could the ppt exchange the tokens with?
The trading stamps/ tokens operated as secondary reinforcers—had value because they could be exchanged for primary reinforcers such as (which could be cashed out in redepmetion stores) gas barbecues or microwaves. This created a tangible, immediate incentive for engaging in safe behavior
conclusion?
The token economy was effective, sustainable, and cost-efficient in improving workplace safety
Name 1 strength and 1 weakness of this study?
Real-world setting (high ecological validity): Conducted in actual mines, making the findings highly relevant and applicable to real-life safety practices.
No control group: Without a comparison group, it’s hard to say definitively that the token economy alone caused the improvements.
