Lesson 8 - Reinforcement Schedules

Presentation of Theoretical Construct

 

Lecture Information: List of Common Reinforcement Schedules

1. Continuous

   1. Every occasion that you see the behavior; it gets rewarded

      1. Every time a student raises their hand to speak; they get a jelly bean

      2. Very high immediate impact on behavior

      3. Very low persistence when reinforcement stops

2. Fixed Interval

   1. Set period of time between reinforcements & aversives

      1. Award ceremony for the cleanest lab station every Friday.

      2. Moderate immediate impact

      3. Moderate persistence

3. Variable Interval

   1. No set time period between rewards or punishments

      1. Check homework once per week but you don't say which day of the week

      2. Moderately high immediate impact

      3. Moderately high persistence

4. Fixed Ratio

   1. Rewarded or punished after a set number of occasions.

      1. Come to me when you have 5 journal entries and I will check them over.

      2. Moderately low immediate impact

      3. Moderately low persistence

5. Variable Ratio

   1. Randomly reinforce or punish behavior

      1. I'll occasionally collect the homework throughout the year.

      2. Moderate immediate impact

      3. Very high persistence

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