operant conditioning: reinforcement schedules

reinforcement schedule

a pattern define how often a desired response will be reinforced

continuous reinforcement schedule

reinforces the desired response every time it occurs

partial (intermittent) reinforcement

reinforces as a response only sometimes, results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement

fixed ratio schedule (FR)

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses

variable ratio schedule (VR)

a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after a random number of behaviors

fixed interval schedule (FI)

reinforcement schedule that enforces a response only after a certain amount of tim has elapsed

variable interval schedule (VI)

reinforces behavior after a random amount of time (checking phone for messages)