Reinforcement Schedules

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Reinforcement Schedules

• Match the type of reinforcement schedule to the
  example that best defines it.

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Reinforcement Schedule Review

• RATIOS RESPONSES
• Fixed Ratio (FR) Reinforcement occurs after a
  fixed number of responses
• Results in a burst-pause-burst-pause pattern
• Variable Ratio (VR) Reinforcement occurs after
  an average number of responses. Number of
  responses required for reinforcement is
  unpredictable.
• Results in high, steady rates of responding with
  almost no pauses

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Reinforcement Schedule Review

• INTERVALS TIME
• Fixed Interval (FI) A reinforcer is delivered
  for the first response after a preset time
  interval has elapsed.
• Number of responses tends to increase as the time
  for the next reinforcer draws near then long
  pause occurs after reinforcement.
• Variable Interval (VI) A reinforcer is
  delivered for the first response after an average
  time interval has elapsed. The interval is
  unpredictable.
• Number of responses will be moderately steady
  because reinforcement could occur at any time.

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Example 1

• A business that advertises that it will change
  your oil in 20 minutes offers you a free oil
  change after you have had your oil changed 5
  times at their business.

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Example 1 ANSWER

• FIXED RATIO (FR)

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Example 2

• Although farmers put out about the same amount
  of labor each year, sometimes they sell their
  grain at harvest time, sometimes in January, and
  sometimes in late March.

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Example 2 ANSWER

• VARIABLE INTERVAL (VI)

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Example 3

• You are fly fishing in a great trout stream.
  Sometimes you catch a fish after only 4 or 5
  casts sometimes it takes 10 or 20 casts.

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Example 3 ANSWER

• VARIABLE RATIO (VR)

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Example 4

• A bank employee is given a bonus of a 30
  restaurant coupon for every 4 hours of overtime
  he volunteers to work.

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Example 4 ANSWER

• FIXED INTERVAL (FI)

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Example 5

• A young child demands a candy bar each time she
  is in the checkout line at the grocery store.
  Sometimes the parent gives her one and sometime
  he doesnt.

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Example 5 ANSWER

• VARIABLE RATIO (VR)

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Example 6

• A piano teacher gives a 6-year-old student a
  sticker for each song he plays well.

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Example 6 ANSWER

• FIXED RATIO (FR)

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Example 7

• You are still fishing from a dock. You sit with
  your line in the water and wait for the fish to
  strike. Sometimes it takes only 20 minutes, and
  sometimes it takes an hour or more.

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Example 7 ANSWER

• VARIABLE INTERVAL (VI)

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Example 8

• You do piece work in a factory. For every 3
  sleeves you sew on garments, you get 0.50.

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Example 8 ANSWER

• FIXED RATIO (FR)

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Example 9

• For each half day that a second grader pays
  attention and works well, the teacher gives her a
  Good Behavior dollar that she can trade in at
  the end of the week for desired objects from the
  store.

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Example 9 ANSWER

• FIXED INTERVAL (FI)

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Example 10

• A vacuum cleaner salesperson does numerous
  presentations in peoples homes and gets paid a
  bonus each time he or she sells a vacuum.
  Sometimes the salesperson does 5 presentations
  before a customer buys a vacuum, sometimes 2
  customers in a row purchase the product.

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Example 10 ANSWER

• VARIABLE RATIO (VR)

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Example 11

• Your paycheck arrives on the 1st and the 15th
  of every month.

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Example 11 ANSWER

• FIXED INTERVAL (FI)

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Example 12

• Buying state lottery tickets winning.

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Example 12 ANSWER

• Variable Ratio (VR)

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Example 13

• A hotel maid may take a 15-minute break only
  after having cleaned three rooms.

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Example 13 ANSWER

• Fixed Ratio (FR)

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Example 14

• Watching and seeing shooting stars on a dark
  night.

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Example 14 ANSWER

• Variable Interval (VI)

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Example 15

• A teenager receives an allowance every Saturday.

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Example 15 ANSWER

• Fixed Interval (FI)

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Example 16

• Checking the front porch for a newspaper when
  the delivery person is extremely unpredictable.

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Example 16 ANSWER

• Variable Interval (VI)

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Example 17

• A professional baseball player gets a hit
  approximately every third time at bat.

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Example 17 ANSWER

• Variable Ratio (VR)

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Example 18

• Checking the oven to see if chocolate chip
  cookies are done, when the baking time is known.

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Example 18 ANSWER

• Fixed Interval (FI)

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Example 19

• A blueberry picker receives 1 after filling 3
  pint boxes.

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Example 19 ANSWER

• Fixed Ratio (FR)

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Example 20

• A charitable organization makes an average of
  ten phone calls for every donation it receives.

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Example 20 ANSWER

• Variable Ratio (VR)

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Example 21

• Calling a garage mechanic to see if your car is
  fixed yet.

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Example 21 ANSWER

• Variable Interval (VI)

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Example 22

• A students final grade improves one level for
  every three book reviews submitted.

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Example 22 ANSWER

• Fixed Ratio (FR)

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Example 23

• Going to the cafeteria to see if the next meal
  is available.

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Example 23 ANSWER

• Fixed Interval (FI)