Why do schedules of reinforcement matter so much?
When and how often we reinforce a behavior can dramatically impact the strength and rate of the response.
What Are Schedules of Reinforcement?
Verywell / JR Bee
Schedules of reinforcement are rules stating which instances of behavior will be reinforced.
In some cases, a behavior might be reinforced every time it occurs.
Sometimes, a behavior might not be reinforced at all.
Eitherpositive reinforcementornegative reinforcementmay be used as a part of operant conditioning.
Reinforcement schedules occur in both naturally occurring learning situations and more structured training situations.
In real-world tweaks, behaviors will probably not be reinforced every time they occur.
Some schedules are better suited to certain types of training situations.
The two foundational forms of reinforcement schedules are referred to as continuous reinforcement and partial reinforcement.
Imagine, for example, that you are trying to teach a dog to shake your hand.
Eventually, the dog will start to perform the action on its own.
Continuous reinforcement schedules are most effective when teaching a new behavior.
These schedules denote a pattern in which every narrowly defined response is followed by a narrowly defined consequence.
Learned behaviors are acquired more slowly with partial reinforcement, but the response is more resistant toextinction.
Think of the earlier example in which you were training a dog to shake.
There are four schedules of partial reinforcement.
Two are ratio schedules, which are schedules based on how manyresponseshave occurred.
The other two are interval schedules or schedules based on how muchtimehas elapsed.
Fixed-Ratio Schedules
Fixed-ratio schedulesreinforce a response only after a specified number of responses.
Variable-Ratio Schedules
Variable-ratio schedulesoccur when a response is reinforced after an unpredictable number of responses.
This schedule creates a high steady rate of responding.
Fixed-Interval Schedules
Fixed-interval schedulesreward a first response is rewarded only after aspecified amount of timehas elapsed.
Variable-Interval Schedules
Variable-interval schedulesoccur when a response is rewarded after an unpredictable amount of time has passed.
This schedule produces a slow, steady rate of response.
Schedules of Reinforcement and Extinction
Once a reinforcement is stopped, the response starts to decline.
Typically, fixed schedules of reinforcement are more prone to extinction, while variable schedules are more resistant.
Extinction can result in undesirable side effects.
Examples of Schedules of Reinforcement
Schedules of reinforcement can be applied in different prefs.
An example of using schedule of reinforcements in a parenting scenario is when potty training a child.
Schedules of reinforcement can also be used inapplied behavioral analysisor ABA.
In this case, reinforcers are used to improve some punch in of behavior.
Using the Appropriate Schedule
Deciding when to reinforce a behavior can depend on a number of factors.
Once the behavior has been learned, switching to a partial schedule is often preferable.
In daily life, partial schedules of reinforcement occur much more frequently than continuous ones.
For example, imagine if you received a reward every time you showed up to work on time.
Instead, rewards like these are usually doled out on a much less predictable partial reinforcement schedule.
Partial schedules reduce the risk of satiation once a behavior has been established.
For example, imagine that you are trying to teach a dog to sit.
If you use food as a reward every time, the dog might stop performing once it is full.
In such instances, something like praise or attention may be more effective in reinforcing an already established behavior.
Final Thoughts
Operant conditioning can be a powerful learning tool.
It can also determine how quickly a behavior can be extinguished.
2021;51:613-631. doi:10.1007/s10803-020-04569-2
Nevid JS.Essentials of Psychology: Concepts and Applications.
Cengage Learning; 2018.
