This can have an impact on both the strength and rate of the response.
The employee receives reinforcement every seven days, which may result in a higher response rate as payday approaches.
Dental exams also take place on a fixed-interval schedule.
Nick M Do/Getty Images
Behaviors that are followed by desirable outcomes become stronger and more likely to occur again in the future.
Actions that are followed by unfavorable outcomes become less likely to occur again in the future.
It was noted psychologistB.F.
Skinnerwho first described this operant conditioning process.
By reinforcing actions, he observed, those actions became stronger.
When punishing behaviors, however, those actions become weakened.
How Does a Fixed-Interval Schedule Work?
The pigeon can continue to peck the key during that interval.
Some of these can be seen as benefits, while some might be considered drawbacks.
A fixed-interval schedule can also have a negative impact on motivation over time.
Because the reinforcement becomes so predictable, it may have a less rewarding effect.
What This Means For You
Fixed-interval schedules can be an essential tool when teaching new behaviors.
Sometimes these schedules occur naturally, while other times they are artificially created and controlled by reward systems.
Overskeid G.Do we need the environment to explain operant behavior?.Front Psychol.
2018;9:373. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00373
Sproatt D, Navab A.Operant conditioning.
In: Volkmar FR, ed.Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders.New York, N: Springer; 2013.
Watson ST, Griffes C.Fixed interval schedule.
In: Goldstein S, Naglieri JA, eds.Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development.
Boston, MA: Springer; 2011.
