Final answer:
Continuous reinforcement involves giving a reinforcer each time that a behavior is displayed. It is especially effective in training a new behavior, as opposed to partial or intermittent reinforcement, which involves reinforcing behavior on a schedule that could be fixed or variable, and based on intervals or ratios.
Step-by-step explanation:
Continuous reinforcement is the term used to describe the process of giving a reinforcer every time a behavior is displayed. This type of reinforcement is particularly useful when teaching a new behavior, as it helps the subject to quickly make the association between the behavior and the reward. In contrast to continuous reinforcement, partial reinforcement, also known as intermittent reinforcement, involves reinforcing behavior not every time it occurs but on a schedule that can be based on fixed or variable intervals or ratios.
Examples of reinforcement schedules:
- Fixed interval: Reward after a set amount of time, regardless of how many times the behavior occurs.
- Variable interval: Reward after an unpredictable amount of time.
- Fixed ratio: Reward after a set number of responses.
- Variable ratio: The number of responses needed for a reward varies, which is a powerful reinforcement schedule often used in gambling situations, like slot machines.