1. Schedules of Reinforcement
Additional Practice

2. Helpful Hints! To chose between INTERVAL and RATIO ask yourself: -OR-
Is TIME the major factor that causes a favorable outcome? (Interval)
-OR-
Is it the REPETITION of responses that causes a favorable outcome? (Ratio)

3. Helpful Hints! To chose between FIXED and VARIABLE ask yourself: -OR-
Is the time or repetition CONSTANT? (Fixed)
-OR-
Is the time or repetition RANDOM or IRREGULAR?
(Variable)

4. The most common reinforcement schedules are:
fixed ratio
fixed interval
Example: A farmer gets paid for every 10 bushels of apples
Example: Planned tests
students cram because the time is near

5. Is it FR, VR, FI or VI?
1. _____ Paid $10 for every 20 puzzles solved

6. Is it FR, VR, FI or VI?
2. _____ Selling a product door to door

7. Is it FR, VR, FI or VI?
3. _____ Getting the clothes out of the dryer once it buzzes

8. Is it FR, VR, FI or VI ?
4. _____ Doing 20 pushups to help stay fit

9. Is it FR, VR, FI or VI ?
5. _____ Waiting for a sunny day to go to the beach

10. Is it FR, VR, FI or VI ?
6. _____ Surfer waiting for the perfect wave to ride in

11. Is it FR, VR, FI or VI ?
7. _____ Students are released from class when the end-of-period bell rings.

12. Is it FR, VR, FI or VI ?
8. _____ Every time you buy a sandwich at Subway you get your card punched; after 10 punches you get a free sandwich.

13. Is it FR, VR, FI or VI?
9. _____ Sometimes the mail is delivered at 1:00, sometimes it’s closer to 2:00.

14. Is it FR, VR, FI or VI?
10. _____ Once in a while you like to surprise your boyfriend or girlfriend with something nice.

15. How’d you do?!

16. Is it FR, VR, FI or VI? 1. _____ Paid $10 for every 20 puzzles solved
Answer: Fixed Ratio
You must solve a certain number of puzzles before you’re reinforced.

17. Answer: Variable Ratio
Is it FR, VR, FI or VI?
2. _____ Selling a product door to door
Answer: Variable Ratio
The amount of times you need to go to a door before you sell products varies…but eventually you will sell the product.

18. Is it FR, VR, FI or VI?
3. _____ Getting the clothes out of the dryer once it buzzes Answer: Fixed Ratio - You must go to the dryer a certain number of times (once) when it buzzes to get reinforced (clean clothes)

19. Is it FR, VR, FI or VI ? 4. _____ Doing 20 pushups to help stay fit
Answer: Fixed Ratio
You must do a certain number of pushups (20) to get the desired outcome (staying fit)

20. Answer: Variable Interval
Is it FR, VR, FI or VI ?
5. _____ Waiting for a sunny day to go to the beach
Answer: Variable Interval
Reinforced after varying lengths of time
Ex. This week it’s 2 days and then sunny on Wednesday, next week it’s 3 days and then sunny on Thursday

21. Answer: Variable Interval
Is it FR, VR, FI or VI ?
6. _____ Surfer waiting for the perfect wave to ride in
Answer: Variable Interval
Reinforced after varying lengths of time
Sometimes it’s 5 mins, sometimes it’s 10…

22. Answer: Fixed Interval
Is it FR, VR, FI or VI ?
7. _____ Students are released from class when the end-of-period bell rings.
Answer: Fixed Interval
After 90 mins students are released to go to their next class.

23. Is it FR, VR, FI or VI ?
8. _____ Every time you buy a sandwich at Subway you get your card punched; after 10 punches you get a free sandwich.
Answer: Fixed Ratio
Certain number of response (10 sandwiches)= free sandwich

24. Answer: Variable Interval
Is it FR, VR, FI or VI?
9. _____ Sometimes the mail is delivered at 1:00, sometimes it’s closer to 2:00.
Answer: Variable Interval
Reinforced after varying lengths of time (between 1 and 2pm)

25. Answer: Fixed Interval
Is it FR, VR, FI or VI?
10. _____ Child who like to hear theme music from Jeopardy weeknights at 7:30 p.m.
Answer: Fixed Interval
Reinforced after certain period of time- wait until 7:30!