Schedules of Reinforcement

Additional Practice

Helpful Hints!

• To chose between INTERVAL and RATIO ask yourself:– Is TIME the major factor that causes a favorable

outcome? (Interval)

-OR-– Is it the REPETITION of responses that causes a

favorable outcome? (Ratio)

Helpful Hints!

• To chose between FIXED and VARIABLE ask yourself:– Is the time or repetition CONSTANT? (Fixed)

-OR-– Is the time or repetition RANDOM or IRREGULAR?

(Variable)

The most common reinforcement schedules are:

Example: A farmer gets paid for every 10 bushels of apples

fixed ratio

Example: Planned testsstudents cram because the time is near

fixed interval

Is it FR, VR, FI or VI?

1. _____ Paid $10 for every 20 puzzles solved

Is it FR, VR, FI or VI?

2. _____ Selling a product door to door

Is it FR, VR, FI or VI?

3. _____ Getting the clothes out of the dryer once it buzzes

Is it FR, VR, FI or VI ?

4. _____ Doing 20 pushups to help stay fit

Is it FR, VR, FI or VI ?

5. _____ Waiting for a sunny day to go to the beach

Is it FR, VR, FI or VI ?

6. _____ Surfer waiting for the perfect wave to ride in

Is it FR, VR, FI or VI ?

7. _____ Students are released from class when the end-of-period bell rings.

Is it FR, VR, FI or VI ?

8. _____ Every time you buy a sandwich at Subway you get your card punched; after 10 punches you get a free sandwich.

Is it FR, VR, FI or VI?

9. _____ Sometimes the mail is delivered at 1:00, sometimes it’s closer to 2:00.

Is it FR, VR, FI or VI?

10. _____ Once in a while you like to surprise your boyfriend or girlfriend with something nice.

How’d you do?!

Is it FR, VR, FI or VI?

1. _____ Paid $10 for every 20 puzzles solved

Answer: Fixed Ratio

– You must solve a certain number of puzzles before you’re reinforced.

Is it FR, VR, FI or VI?

2. _____ Selling a product door to doorAnswer: Variable Ratio

– The amount of times you need to go to a door before you sell products varies…but eventually you will sell the product.

Is it FR, VR, FI or VI?

3. _____ Getting the clothes out of the dryer once it buzzes

Answer: Fixed Ratio

- You must go to the dryer a certain number of times (once) when it buzzes to get reinforced (clean clothes)

Is it FR, VR, FI or VI ?

4. _____ Doing 20 pushups to help stay fit

Answer: Fixed Ratio

– You must do a certain number of pushups (20) to get the desired outcome (staying fit)

Is it FR, VR, FI or VI ?

5. _____ Waiting for a sunny day to go to the beach

Answer: Variable Interval

– Reinforced after varying lengths of time• Ex. This week it’s 2 days and then sunny on

Wednesday, next week it’s 3 days and then sunny on Thursday

Is it FR, VR, FI or VI ?

6. _____ Surfer waiting for the perfect wave to ride in

Answer: Variable Interval

– Reinforced after varying lengths of time– Sometimes it’s 5 mins, sometimes it’s 10…

Is it FR, VR, FI or VI ?

7. _____ Students are released from class when the end-of-period bell rings.

Answer: Fixed Interval

– After 90 mins students are released to go to their next class.

Is it FR, VR, FI or VI ?

8. _____ Every time you buy a sandwich at Subway you get your card punched; after 10 punches you get a free sandwich.

Answer: Fixed Ratio

– Certain number of response (10 sandwiches)= free sandwich

Is it FR, VR, FI or VI?

9. _____ Sometimes the mail is delivered at 1:00, sometimes it’s closer to 2:00.

Answer: Variable Interval

– Reinforced after varying lengths of time (between 1 and 2pm)

Is it FR, VR, FI or VI?

10. _____ Child who like to hear theme music from Jeopardy weeknights at 7:30 p.m.

Answer: Fixed Interval

– Reinforced after certain period of time- wait until 7:30!