Behavioral Analysis

Fixed Interval (FI) Contingency

First response after t amount of time since the last reinforcer produces the reinforcer; t is fixed

Response-Independent Schedules: Fixed Time (FT)

The reinforcer is delivered after a fixed period of time, independent of behavior

Response-Independent Schedules: Variable Time (VT)

The reinforcer is delivered after a variable period of time, independent of behavior

Fixed Schedules

The probability of the next reinforcer just after a reinforcer is low (maybe 0); where as on variable schedules, the probability is higher than 0

Variable Ratio (VR) Behavior

High, steady rate of response (no PRPs)

Fixed Interval (FI) Behavior: Scalloped pattern

Post-reinforcement pause (PRP) follows reinforcer delivery than response rates gradually increase over the interval. PRP duration increases with interval size

PRP (Post-Reinforcement Pause)

PRP duration not fixed; increases as a function of ratio and interval size. Variable schedules do not produce PRPs. (Heavy workloads cause long pauses; random rewards keep you moving with no pauses)

Ratio Strain

When the ratio requirement for reinforcement is increased too rapidly, behavior becomes disrupted; Pausing starts to happen in between responses, resulting in response rate decreases

Variable Ratio (VR) Contingency

N responses produce the reinforcer, N varies unpredictably

Variable Interval (VI) Contingency

First response after t amount of time since the last reinforcer produces the reinforcer; t varies unpredictably

Variable Interval (VI) Behavior

Moderate, steady rate of response (no PRP)