A clinical application of a fixed interval schedule is a patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump for pain management. A patient can press a button for medication, but the device only dispenses the drug at set intervals, like once per hour. This prevents overuse, as repeated presses before the interval ends yield no reinforcement. This example also illustrates rapid extinction; because the patient is on a fixed schedule, the behavior of pressing the button will quickly diminish if reinforcement (pain relief) does not occur at the expected time.

Example of Fixed Interval Reinforcement: Patient-Controlled Painkiller

When comparing reinforcement schedules, the variable ratio schedule is notable for being the most effective at generating a high rate of response and the most resilient against extinction. Conversely, the fixed interval schedule is considered the least productive in terms of response rate and the most susceptible to rapid extinction once reinforcement is withdrawn.

Comparison of Reinforcement Schedules by Productivity and Extinction Resistance

The effects of different reinforcement schedules can be visualized on a graph plotting the cumulative number of responses against time. On such a graph, ratio schedules (Variable and Fixed) exhibit steep slopes, indicating high response rates, while interval schedules (Variable and Fixed) show more moderate slopes. Variable schedules produce steady, relatively straight response lines. In contrast, fixed schedules create distinct patterns: the fixed ratio schedule is marked by a brief pause after each reinforcement before responding resumes at a high rate, creating a 'stair-step' pattern. The fixed interval schedule produces a 'scalloped' curve, where the response rate is low immediately after reinforcement and gradually increases as the next reinforcement time approaches.

Graphical Representation of Reinforcement Schedules

A bakery offers a free coffee to customers every Tuesday morning with any purchase. The owner notices that the bakery is busiest on Tuesday mornings, but sales are significantly lower on other days of the week. This pattern of customer behavior, where purchasing increases dramatically just before the reward is available, is characteristic of which reinforcement schedule?

In a fixed interval reinforcement schedule, a reward is given for a desired behavior only after a specific, unvarying amount of time has passed. Any instances of the behavior that occur before the interval is over are not reinforced. This schedule is considered the least productive in terms of response rate and is the easiest to extinguish, as the behavior tends to cease quickly if the reinforcement is not delivered at the expected time.

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- Continuous reinforcement
- Partial reinforcement
- Fixed interval
- Variable interval
- Fixed ratio
- Variable ratio

Types of Reinforcement Schedules

Partial reinforcement schedules are categorized based on two key dimensions. The first is whether the schedule is an 'interval' type (based on the time between reinforcements) or a 'ratio' type (based on the number of responses). The second dimension is whether the schedule is 'fixed' (the time or number of responses is constant and unchanging) or 'variable' (the time or number of responses changes unpredictably).

Dimensions of Partial Reinforcement Schedules

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Continuous reinforcement is a schedule in which a desired behavior is reinforced every time it is performed. This approach is the fastest method for teaching a new behavior, as the consistent and immediate reward helps the subject quickly form a strong association between the action and its positive consequence. Because of its effectiveness in the initial stages of learning, it is a highly recommended strategy for training a new behavior.

Continuous Reinforcement

In a variable interval reinforcement schedule, reinforcement is delivered after unpredictable and varying periods of time have passed. Because the timing of the reward is not known, this schedule tends to produce a steady and consistent rate of response.

Variable Interval Reinforcement Schedule

In a variable ratio reinforcement schedule, a reward is delivered after an unpredictable number of responses. This schedule is highly effective at maintaining behavior due to the uncertainty of reinforcement, which encourages a high, steady rate of response. It is considered the most powerful type of partial reinforcement, making behaviors extremely persistent and resistant to extinction, even during long periods without reward. This persistence is because the occasional reinforcement makes it very difficult to stop the behavior, as seen in examples like gambling or a child's tantrums when a parent occasionally gives in.

Variable Ratio Reinforcement Schedule

Once a behavior has been learned, trainers often switch to a partial reinforcement schedule, also known as intermittent reinforcement. Under this schedule, the desired behavior is not reinforced every single time it is performed; instead, the reward is delivered only some of the time.

Partial (Intermittent) Reinforcement

Fixed Interval Reinforcement Schedule

In a fixed ratio reinforcement schedule, a reward is delivered only after a predetermined number of responses have been made. This schedule is particularly effective at producing a high rate of response because the reinforcement is directly tied to the quantity of the behavior performed.

Fixed Ratio Reinforcement Schedule

A coffee shop has a loyalty program where a customer receives a free drink after purchasing nine drinks. This is an example of which type of reinforcement schedule?

A system for rewarding a behavior can be classified along two independent dimensions: first, whether the reward is based on the passage of time or on the number of responses, and second, whether that requirement is predictable or unpredictable. Analyze the reward system described in the case study below based on these two dimensions.

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