Psychology Schedule of Reinforcement

Schedule of Reinforcement

• Defines the requirements for delivering reinforcers, influencing behavior based on the nature of the response.

Continuous Reinforcement

• Involves reinforcement after every specified response.
• Effective for initially strengthening or shaping behavior.

Intermittent Reinforcement

• Reinforcement is provided only for some responses, contrasting continuous reinforcement.

Ratio Schedule

• Requires a certain number of responses for reinforcement.
• Types include:
  • Fixed Ratio (FR): Reinforcement after a set number of responses.
  • Variable Ratio (VR): Reinforcement based on a varying number of responses, averaging around a set number.

Interval Schedule

• Reinforcement is timed, contingent on the passage of a specific time period after the last reinforcement.
• Types include:
  • Fixed Interval (FI): Reinforcement after a predictable time.
  • Variable Interval (VI): Reinforcement after varying time periods.

Fixed Ratio (FR)

• Reinforcement follows a predictable number of responses, leading to high response rates with short post-reinforcement pauses.
• Higher response demands can produce longer pauses if they are more challenging.

Postreinforcement Pause

• A brief pause following reinforcement before responding resumes.

Variable Ratio Schedules (VR)

• Reinforcement depends on an unpredictable number of responses, resulting in high and steady response rates with minimal postreinforcement pauses.
• Tends to elicit persistence in behaviors, including maladaptive ones such as gambling.

Examples of VR Schedules

• Gambling and receiving rewards for certain acts of kindness demonstrate unpredictable reinforcement.

Fixed Interval Schedules (FI)

• Involves rewards based on responses following a fixed time period, typically producing a scalloped response pattern as the interval approaches completion.

Variable Interval Schedules (VI)

• Reinforcement is provided based on varying time intervals, promoting a steady response rate with minimal pauses.

Working Versus Checking

• Working: Reflects a ratio schedule mindset, where responses are faster.
• Checking: Indicates an interval schedule mindset, with slower responses.

Reynolds Experiment

• Studied VR and VI schedules, revealing that animals on VR schedules responded significantly faster than those on VI, despite receiving equal reinforcement.

Fixed versus Variable Types

• Fixed Schedules: Typically result in postreinforcement pauses since responses are predictable.
• Variable Schedules: Eliminate the predictability of reinforcement timing, leading to higher response rates; VR schedules yield the highest responses.