Question

How do schedules of reinforcement affect behavior? What is the best kind of reinforcement schedule to use when you are teaching a new response that is not yet established in the repertoire and what is the best kind of reinforcement schedule to use when the behavior is already in the repertoire, and we want to maintain it? Why?

Answer 1

There are different schedules of reinforcement and they have an effect on the behaviour. these are as follows;-

• Fixed-Ratio- Here the reinforcement is provided after a specified number of responses. For Example, A dog will get food if he presses the liver every 5 times.
• Variable-Ratio- It is opposite of previous, here there is no specified number of responses need to get the reinforcement. For Example, A dog will get food after pressing 2 times, next by 7 times, next by 4 times.
• Fixed-Interval-Getting reinforcement after a fixed amount of time. It is time-based. For Example, John gets a salary every month.
• Variable Interval- Getting reinforcement does not have any specific time period. It can occur anytime. For Example, John getting paid for his work after 5 days, another time after 19 days, next after 48 days.

In teaching establishing a new response will require is the Variable ratio, because this schedule has higher rate of response and less probability of extinction. In repertoire, students are not known about their specified number of responses they need to make, so they keep grinding into the hard work and then they will be reinforced variably.

To maintain already set behaviour, it is required to use Variable-ratio, this is because the rate of learning is highest and less likely to be extinguished easily. This can be further explained as students will continue to perform well as they are being reinforced variably and not in a fixed ratio. there is no time restriction, but there is a requirement of continuous effort. It is the teacher who decides when to give the reinforcement.