The greater the reinforcing value of the time-in setting, the more effective the time-out procedure.

• A. Not enough information
• B. True
• C. It depends
• D. False

Answer: (B)

Time-out works by removing access to reinforcement for a brief period, which reduces the likelihood of the problem behavior in the future. The impact of that removal depends on how valuable the time-in setting is to the individual. When the time-in environment offers highly valued activities, social interactions, or privileges, losing access to that environment for a short time creates a meaningful consequence. That larger loss makes the behavior less likely to occur again because the cost of engaging in the problem behavior is high. Conversely, if the time-in setting isn’t very reinforcing, the temporary removal isn’t experienced as a strong penalty, and the time-out is less effective. So, as the reinforcing value of the time-in setting increases, the time-out procedure tends to work better.