Final answer:
The variable ratio reinforcement schedule produces the highest rate of responding among the reinforcement schedules, creating high and steady response rates without significant pause after reinforcement.
Step-by-step explanation:
The reinforcement schedule that produces the highest rate of responding or more instances of the target behavior is the variable ratio schedule. In this type of schedule, the number of responses needed for a reward varies and is unpredictable, which leads to high and steady response rates without much pause after reinforcement. Examples include gambling and commission-based sales where the frequency of the reward is not fixed.
A variable interval schedule offers moderate, steady rates of response since the reinforcement is based on varying and unpredictable times. A fixed ratio schedule involves a set number of responses before a reward is given, and while it produces high response rates, there is typically a short pause after reinforcement. The continuous reinforcement schedule gives a reward after every correct response and is good for establishing new behaviors, but it is not the schedule that produces the highest rate of responding when compared to partial reinforcement schedules.