Final answer:
Response rates on a single option will be highest when reinforcer magnitude is high because higher rewards tend to encourage more robust and sustained behavior. Understanding the effects of reinforcement magnitude and schedules, such as variable ratio or fixed ratio, are crucial in predicting behavior patterns.
Step-by-step explanation:
The quantitative law of effect in psychology suggests that response rates on a single option will be highest when the reinforcement probability is moderate, as too high or too low reinforcement probability can negatively impact response rates. However, when looking at the options provided within the context of this question, the most accurate choice would be that response rates on a single option will be highest when reinforcer magnitude is high. This is because higher magnitudes of reinforcement are more likely to incentivize and sustain behavior compared to lower magnitudes, assuming other conditions such as delay and probability are constant. The key to understanding the law of effect is acknowledging that both the quality (magnitude) and the schedule (ratio or interval, fixed or variable) of reinforcement can significantly influence behavior.
Relevant examples from psychology include the variable ratio reinforcement schedule, which underlies behaviors like gambling, where the reinforcement is unpredictable but can result in a high and steady response rate. This is in contrast to the fixed ratio reinforcement schedule, which is predictable and can produce a high response rate, typically with a short pause after reinforcement, as in the case of a saleswoman earning a commission after selling a certain number of products.