Final answer:
A variable ratio reward schedule is used when behavior is reinforced after an unpredictable number of responses, as in the case with slot machines in casinos. This schedule is highly effective and resistant to extinction, leading to a steady and high rate of response.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to a variable ratio reward schedule, desired behavior is reinforced after an unpredictable number of behaviors. Slot machines, for example, reward gamblers with money according to this reinforcement schedule. It is considered the most powerful type of partial reinforcement schedule because it produces a high and steady rate of response with little pause after reinforcement, which in turn is highly resistant to extinction.
A fixed ratio reinforcement schedule provides rewards after a set number of responses, leading to a high response rate with a short pause after reinforcement. In contrast, a variable interval reinforcement schedule delivers reinforcement after varying and unpredictable amounts of time, while a fixed interval schedule rewards after a set amount of time.
Overall, the variable ratio schedule's unpredictability and resistance to extinction make it especially effective in settings like gambling, where it keeps individuals consistently engaging in the behavior without knowing when the next reward will come.