Schedules of Reinforcement Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the core rules, types, and responding patterns of reinforcement schedules based on the provided cheat sheet.

Ratio

A schedule of reinforcement based on behaviors, actions, counts, or responses.

Interval

A schedule of reinforcement based on the passage of time, such as seconds, minutes, or hours.

Fixed

A schedule of reinforcement that is the same every time, constant, or set.

Variable

A schedule of reinforcement that changes, is random, or is based on an average.

Fixed Ratio (FR)

A reinforcement schedule based on behaviors that is the same every time; it produces fast responding followed by a short pause after the reward.

Variable Ratio (VR)

A reinforcement schedule based on behaviors that changes on an average; it produces very high, steady responding with no pauses.

Fixed Interval (FI)

A reinforcement schedule based on time that is the same every time; it produces a scalloped pattern where responding is slow and then speeds up.

Variable Interval (VI)

A reinforcement schedule based on time that changes on an average; it produces moderate, steady, consistent responding.

Fixed Ratio Example

Receiving a token for every $5$ correct answers.

Fixed Interval Example

Receiving praise for the first correct response after exactly $5\,\text{min}$.

Variable Ratio Example

Receiving a reward on average every $5$ responses, where the exact number of responses is random (e.g., $2, 7, 4, 6, 3$).

Variable Interval Example

Receiving praise for the first correct response on average every $3\,\text{min}$, though the actual time is random (e.g., $0, 2, 5\,\text{min}$).

Scalloped pattern

The specific look of responding for a Fixed Interval (FI) schedule where responding starts slow and then speeds up.