Reinforcement schedules

Continuous

learning/extinction occurs rapidly

behavior = extinguished after reinforcement = extinguished.

EX: Vending machine takes your money, you stop using vending machines

Partial or intermittent

occasionally reinforced.

Extinction is less, but learning is slower

EXAMPLE??

Fixed interval

a schedule relying on time for reinforcement.

EX: checking mailbox after the usual delivery time

Variable-interval

responses are reinforced at random times.

EXAMPLE??

Fixed-ratio

Behavior is reinforced after a certain # of responses

EX: free coffee after every 10.

Variable-ratio

reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals.

slow, steady responses

EX: gambling; a random number of responses creates a reward