AP Psychology Schedule of Reinforcement

Blake is a carpet installer who wants to be paid for each square foot of carpet he lays rather than with an hourly wage. Blake prefers working on a ________ schedule of reinforcement.

• fixed-ratio

• fixed-interval

• variable-interval

• variable-ratio

Purchasing state lottery tickets is reinforced with monetary winnings on a ________ schedule.

• fixed-interval

• variable-interval

• fixed-ratio

• variable-ratio

An executive in a computer software firm works with his office door closed. At the same time every hour he opens the door to see what his employees are doing. The employees have learned to work especially hard during the five minutes before and while the door is open. Their work pattern is typical of responses that are reinforced on a ________ schedule.

• fixed-interval

• fixed-ratio

• variable-ratio

• variable-interval

You are expecting an important letter in the mail. As the regular delivery time approaches you glance more and more frequently out the window, searching for the letter carrier. Your behavior in this situation typifies that associated with which schedule of reinforcement?

• fixed-ratio

• variable-ratio

• fixed-interval

• variable-interval

Gambling is reinforced according to which schedule?

• fixed-interval

• fixed-ratio

• variable-interval

• variable-ratio

The highest and most consistent rate of response is produced by a ________ schedule.

• fixed-ratio

• variable-ratio

• fixed-interval

• variable-interval

Luana edits manuscripts for a publisher and is paid $25 for every three pages she edits. Luana is reinforced on a ________ schedule.

• fixed-interval

• fixed-ratio

• variable-interval

• variable-ratio

Watching the night sky for shooting stars is likely to be reinforced on a ________ schedule.

• fixed-interval

• fixed-ratio

• variable-interval

• variable-ratio

On the first day of class, Professor Wallace tells her geography students that pop quizzes will be given at unpredictable times throughout the semester. Clearly, studying for Professor Wallace's surprise quizzes will be reinforced on a ________ schedule.

• fixed-interval

• variable-interval

• variable-ratio

• fixed-ratio

Asking for dates is most likely to be reinforced on a ________ schedule.

• fixed-ratio

• variable-interval

• variable-ratio

• fixed-interval