Final answer:
A fixed-interval schedule is a reinforcement method where behavior is rewarded following a predetermined time period, regardless of how many responses occur within that interval. It leads to a specific pattern of behavior characterized by a post-reinforcement pause and increased response rate as the next reinforcement time approaches. This time-based approach can result in higher quality output but is also easier to extinguish if reinforcements stop.
Step-by-step explanation:
A fixed-interval schedule is a type of reinforcement schedule in which behavior is rewarded after a set amount of time has passed. For instance, consider a patient named June who has recently undergone surgery and needs pain relief medication. In this scenario, June's use of a patient-controlled IV drip for pain relief is regulated to provide medication doses on a fixed schedule: one dose per hour.
This means that even if June presses the button for pain relief more frequently, they will only receive the next dose at the next one-hour interval. The fixed-interval schedule typically yields a specific response pattern characterized by a pause in behavior immediately after the reinforcement is provided, followed by an increasing rate of behavior as the time for the next reinforcement approaches.
In contrast to other schedules, like the fixed ratio reinforcement schedule, where a set number of responses must occur before a behavior is rewarded, or the variable ratio reinforcement schedule, where the number of responses required for a reward varies, the fixed-interval schedule is strictly time-based and does not depend on the number of actions taken by the individual.
As a result, this type of schedule may lead to a higher quality of output since the reward is not based on the quantity of responses. However, it may also be the easiest to extinguish when reinforcement ceases, as there are regular expectations for when reinforcements are to occur.