Schedules of Reinforcement

Schedules of Reinforcement

Reinforcement Schedule Choices:

Continuous reinforcement: reinforce a desired behavior every time it occurs

Advantage: faster acquisition/learning of behavior
Disadvantage: behavior not particularly resistant to extinction (defined as the weakening or disappearance of a behavior when it is not reinforced)

Partial reinforcement: reinforcing a desired behavior only part of the time

If you decide to use a partial reinforcement schedule there are several different options to choose from…

Schedule

Defined

Comments

Examples

Fixed-ratio

Reinforce behavior after a specific number of correct behaviors have occurred.

· Produces fastest acquisition/learning

· Extinguishes relatively fast (how quickly do you notice when a vending machine is broken?)

· Animal or human on this schedule can become exhausted

· Piecework on an assembly line

· Vending machines

Variable-ratio

Reinforce behavior after an average number of correct behaviors have occurred.

· Slower acquisition than fixed-ratio

· More resistant to extinction than fixed ratio (how quickly do you notice when a slot machine is broken and isn’t paying out?)

· Slot machines

· Fishing

Fixed-interval

Reinforce behavior after a specific amount of time has passed

· Behavior more inconsistent

· Respond rapidly near time of reinforcement

· Respond more slowly between reinforcements

· Studying for regularly scheduled exams (e.g., every two weeks)

· Watching the clock at work close to quitting time

Variable-interval

Reinforce behavior after an average amount of time has passed

· Produces slowest acquisition

· Most resistant to extinction

· Behavior more consistent/less variation

· Studying for random pop quizzes

· Surfer waiting for a good wave

· Repeated dialing of a busy phone number