Question

Peter and Justine sell magazine subscriptions by telephone. Peter is paid $1.00 for every five calls he makes, while Justine is paid $1.00 for every subscription she sells regardless of the number of calls she makes. Justine's telephoning is reinforced on a schedule, whereas Peter's is reinforced on a schedule. What type of reinforcement schedule does Peter experience?

a) Fixed Ratio

b) Variable Ratio

c) Fixed Interval

d) Variable Interval

Answer 1

Peter is on a fixed ratio reinforcement schedule since he receives payment after a set number of calls, which is a predictable and consistent reinforcement pattern.

Step-by-step explanation:

Peter experiences a fixed ratio reinforcement schedule in which there are a set number of responses that must occur before the behavior is rewarded. Specifically, Peter is paid $1.00 for every five calls he makes, which aligns with this type of reinforcement schedule because a certain number of actions (telephone calls) leads to a consistent reward (payment). Unlike variable schedules, which are unpredictable, Peter's reinforcement schedule is predictable as it is based on a specific number of responses.