Schedules of Reinforcement & more

Millie and Georgina visit a coffee shop that has a loyalty card: Every 5th coffee you buy, you get a free one.

• Fixed Ratio

• Variable Ratio

• Fixed Interval

• Variable Interval

Answer explanation

The Coffee Shop Loyalty Card follows a Fixed Ratio schedule where every 5th coffee purchase results in a free one, making it a consistent ratio of reinforcement.

Millie's Piece-Rate Pay: Millie, a factory worker, receives a bonus for every 100 widgets she produces.

• Fixed Ratio

• Variable ratio

• Fixed Interval

• Variable Interval

Answer explanation

The factory worker's piece-rate pay is an example of Fixed Ratio reinforcement schedule where the bonus is given after producing a fixed number of widgets (100).

Slot Machine Gambling: Slot machines pay out after a random number of plays, keeping players like Toby and Georgina engaged.

• Fixed Ratio

• Variable Ratio

• Fixed Interval

• Variable Interval

Answer explanation

Slot machines pay out after a random number of plays, which is characteristic of Variable Ratio reinforcement schedule.

Social Media Likes: Receiving likes or comments on your posts on social media, which can be random and unpredictable.

• Fixed Ratio

• Variable Ratio

• Fixed Interval

• Variable Interval

Answer explanation

Variable Ratio reinforcement schedule involves receiving likes or comments on social media, which are random and unpredictable, similar to how this schedule operates.

Charlie and Joanna are fishing at a lake. Charlie doesn't know how many casts it will take to catch a fish.

• Fixed Ratio

• Variable Ratio

• Fixed Interval

• Variable Interval

Answer explanation

The correct choice is Variable Ratio because the fisherman doesn't know how many casts it will take to catch a fish, which is characteristic of a variable ratio schedule.

Monthly Paycheck: Tahiyat and Toby receive a fixed paycheck at the end of each month.

• Fixed Ratio

• Variable Ratio

• Fixed Interval

• Variable Interval

Answer explanation

The correct choice is Fixed Interval because most people receive a fixed paycheck at the end of each month, which is a specific time interval.

Exam Grading: Students like Tahiyat and Toby get their test results at the end of each week.

• Fixed Ratio

• Variable Ratio

• Fixed Interval

• Variable Interval

Answer explanation

The correct choice is Fixed Interval because students receive their test results at specific intervals, such as at the end of each week.

Checking Email for Important Messages: Tahiyat checks her email for important messages, but she never knows when they'll arrive.

• Fixed Ratio

• Variable Ratio

• Fixed Interval

• Variable Interval

Answer explanation

Variable Interval reinforcement schedule is when important messages arrive unpredictably after varying amounts of time, similar to checking email for important messages.

Pop Quizzes in School: The teacher gives pop quizzes at random intervals to keep students like Millie and Charlie studying regularly.

• Fixed Ratio

• Variable Ratio

• Fixed Interval

• Variable Interval

Answer explanation

Pop quizzes given at random intervals align with Variable Interval schedule of reinforcement.

Random Inspections at Work: Health and safety inspections at a workplace occur at varying, unpredictable intervals.

• Fixed Ratio

• Variable Ratio

• Fixed Interval

• Variable Interval

Answer explanation

Health and safety inspections at a workplace occur at varying, unpredictable intervals, making it a Variable Interval schedule.