Question

A hotel maid may take a 15 minute break each time they have cleaned three rooms. Is this: A Fixed Ratio Schedule, or A Fixed Interval Schedule? Explain why.

Answer 1

A hotel maid taking a 15-minute break each time they have cleaned three rooms exemplifies a Fixed Ratio Schedule because the reinforcement is given after a set number of responses, not after a set amount of time.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scenario described in the question is an example of a Fixed Ratio Schedule. This is because the hotel maid receives a break (the reinforcement) only after a set number of responses (cleaning three rooms). The reinforcement is contingent solely on the number of rooms cleaned rather than the amount of time that has passed.

In contrast, a Fixed Interval Schedule involves providing the reinforcement after a set amount of time, regardless of the number of responses. This is not applicable to the maid's situation her break is not based on time intervals but on the completion of a specific task number.