Page 4 - Operant Conditioning

Reinforcement Schedule

In 1957, Ferster and Skinner devised various ways of delivering reinforcement and found
that they affect The Response Rate (the rate at which the rate pressed the lever) and The
Extinction Rate ( The rate at which lever pressing dies out). Below is the table showing the

types of reinforcement with respective description and example.

Reinforcement Rate
Description Example
Schedule Response Extinction

An animal/human is positively Every time a lever is pressed a
Continuous reinforced every time a specific Slow Fast pellet is delivered and then
behavior occurs. food delivery is shut off.

One reinforcement is given after a
fixed time interval providing at least
Fixed interval Medium Medium Being paid by the hour.
one correct response has been
made.

Providing one correct response has
been made, reinforcement is given A self-employed person being
Variable interval Fast Slow
after an unpredictable amount of paid at unpredictable times.
time has passed.
Behavior is reinforced only after the A child receives a star for
Fixed ratio behavior the behavior occurs a Fast Medium every five words spelled
specified number of times. correctly.
Behavior is reinforce after an
Variable ratio Fast Slow Gambling or fishing.
unpredictable number of times.

Reinforcement Schedule