AP Psychology: Unit 3 Reinforcement Schedules

Reinforcement schedule

a pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced

continuous reinforcement

reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs

partial (intermittent) reinforcement

reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement

fixed-ratio schedule

reinforcement of a response after a specific number of responses

variable-ratio schedule

reinforcement of a response after an unpredictable number of responses

fixed-interval schedule

reinforcement of a response after a specific time window

variable-interval schedule

reinforcement of a response after an unpredictable window