Final answer:
Slot machine players are reinforced on a variable ratio schedule, where rewards follow an unpredictable number of responses. This schedule generated high and consistent engagement due to its unpredictability, being most resistant to extinction compared to other schedules like fixed ratio and interval, both variable and fixed.
Step-by-step explanation:
People who play slot machines are reinforced on a variable ratio schedule of reinforcement. In a variable ratio reinforcement schedule, the number of responses required to receive a reward varies after each reinforcer is given. This schedule tends to produce a high and steady rate of response because the reinforcement is unpredictable, and this unpredictability keeps people engaged in the activity, as there is always the chance the next response could be the rewarded one. This makes the variable ratio schedule especially powerful for maintaining behavior even when reinforcement is not provided each time.
Such a schedule is most famously exemplified by slot machines in gambling, where each pull of the lever or press of the button presents a chance to win, but wins occur after an unpredictable number of responses, which could be low or quite high. This uncertainty keeps gamblers playing in the hope of hitting a reward.
Comparatively, the other schedules of reinforcement work differently. In a fixed ratio schedule, there is a set number of responses that must be completed before a behavior is rewarded. For example, a sales commission based strictly on the number of items sold, regardless of quality. In a fixed interval schedule, the behavior is rewarded after a set amount of time, such as pain relief medication that is dispensed on an hourly schedule. Lastly, the variable interval schedule provides reinforcement based on varying and unpredictable amounts of time, which might be the case for a surprise inspection bonus at work.