Notes on Schedules of Reinforcement

Schedules of Reinforcement

Continuous Reinforcement (CRF)
  • A schedule where the client receives a reinforcer after every correct target response or desired behavior.
  • Establishes a 1:1 relationship between behavior and reinforcer.
  • Leads to rapid learning for the client and is primarily used in shaping behaviors.
Intermittent/Partial Reinforcement (PRF)
  • Refers to the reinforcement of a behavior only occasionally, rather than every instance.
  • Takes longer to learn compared to CRF, but behaviors reinforced intermittently tend to be more resistant to extinction over time.
Advantages of PRF over CRF:
  • A. Reinforcer remains effective longer than with CRF due to slower satiation.
  • B. Intermittently reinforced behaviors take longer to extinguish than CRF behaviors.
  • C. Individuals may work more consistently under PRF schedules.
  • D. PRF behaviors persist more readily when transferred to the natural reinforcement environment.
Types of Partial Reinforcement Schedules
1. Ratio Schedules
  • Requires the subject to perform a certain number of correct responses to receive reinforcement.
  • Variations include:
    • a. Fixed Ratio (FR): Same number of responses required for each reward.
    • b. Variable Ratio (VR): Number of responses needed varies, but there is an average number of responses required to receive reinforcement.
2. Interval Schedules
  • Reinforcement is delivered after a certain amount of time has passed since the last reinforced response.
  • Variations include:
    • a. Fixed Interval (FI): A fixed time must elapse before reinforcement is provided after the first response.
    • b. Variable Interval (VI): Time until reinforcement varies, with an average time set.
Limitations of Interval Schedules
  • Simple interval schedules (FI and VI) are often avoided in behavior modification programs for several reasons:
    1. FI schedules can lead to post-reinforcement pauses which are undesirable.
    2. VI schedules may yield too low a response rate to be effective.
    3. Interval schedules necessitate close monitoring of behavior until the response occurs.
Other Types of Interval Schedules
1. Interval Schedules with Limited Hold
  • Reinforcement occurs if the target response happens after a certain time interval, but only within a specified time after the previous reinforcement.
  • Abbreviated with /LH (e.g., FI-30 secs/LH 5 secs).
  • Example: Waiting for a bus.
2. Duration Schedule
  • Reinforcement occurs after the behavior has been continuously engaged for a set period of time.
  • Variations include:
    • A. Fixed-Duration (FD): The time needed is constant across reinforcements.
    • Example: Must practice an instrument for 10 minutes to earn a reward.
    • Reset if the behavior stops.
    • B. Variable Duration (VD): The time needed varies around an average.
    • Example: Waiting for traffic to clear or rubbing sticks together for fire.
    • FD has a post-reinforcement pause, but VD usually does not.