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You are trying to enter a prize drawing at the radio station but the lines are busy. You continue to call every 1-5 minutes hoping to get on the air. Which reinforcement schedule is this?

Responses

variable interval
variable interval

variable ratio
variable ratio

fixed interval
fixed interval

fixed ratio

1 Answer

2 votes

Final answer:

The act of repeatedly calling a radio station at varying time intervals to get through to a prize drawing corresponds to a variable interval reinforcement schedule, featuring unpredictable reinforcement based on varying periods.

Therefore the correct answer is option is variable interval and variable interval

Step-by-step explanation:

The behavior of calling a radio station every 1-5 minutes hoping to get on the air to enter a prize drawing is an example of a variable interval reinforcement schedule. In this type of schedule, the reinforcement (getting through to the radio station) is provided after unpredictable and varying amounts of time have passed. This is unlike a fixed interval schedule where reinforcement would be provided after a set amount of time, or a variable ratio schedule that requires a varying number of responses before reinforcement, or a fixed ratio schedule where a set number of responses are required before receiving a reward.

For example, Manuel, a fast-food restaurant manager, experiences a variable interval reinforcement schedule with quality control visits offering bonuses based on unpredictable visits. Meanwhile, slot machines operate on a variable ratio schedule, where reinforcement (a payout) is based on an unpredictable number of responses (pulls of the lever or button presses).

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