This file accompanies a youtube clip made for VCE Psychology. See www.ePsychVCE.com or my Twitter account 'Psyccounting' for a link to clip

1. Schedules of reinforcement
• Refers to the: frequency & manner in which
desired response is reinforced.
• Continuous reinforcement - reinforcing every
correct response
• Essential during acquisition phase,
• Leads to the most rapid acquisition
• Once a correct response consistently occurs, a
different reinforcement schedule can be used i.e.
• Partial reinforcement – reinforcing some, not all
correct responses

2. Fixed Ratio
• Reinforcement given after a set
(fixed), unvarying # (ratio) of desired
responses
• Often used in work for commission
or rate of production – e.g. $10 for
every 100 newspapers sold
• Produces the fastest response rate
and is effective in increasing worker
output
• Although response rate is erratic
• Less resistant to extinction than
variable ratio
Delivery of food pellet after every
fifth pressing of response lever (i.e..
a fixed ratio)

3. Variable Ratio
• Reinforcer given after irregular (variable) # of correct responses
(ratio)
• E.g. average of 10 for every 100 correct responses – but randomly
given
• Produces a steady response rate
• More effective than fixed ratio, because of uncertainty of
reinforcement
• More resistant to extinction than Fixed ratio
e.g. poker machines

4. Fixed interval
• Delivery of reinforcer after set
period of time after correct
response made.
• Produces erratic response rate
• i.e. high the time just before
reinforcer is due; low the time
just after that.
• E.g. getting paid $10 per hour
worked
• Less resistant to extinction that
variable interval

5. Variable interval
• Reinforcer given after irregular
(variable) periods after correct
response (e.g. on average every
10 sec’s – but with variations
from 4 to 16 sec’s)
• Results in a low but steady
response rate
• More resistant to extinction than
fixed interval

6. Partial Schedules of Reinforcement
summary