Final answer:
A variable ratio reinforcement schedule produces a stable rate of responding with minimal hesitations between responses, as seen in gambling behaviors. It is more resistant to extinction compared to other schedules such as fixed ratio, variable interval, and fixed interval schedules, which have their response patterns.
Step-by-step explanation:
The schedule of reinforcement that produces a constant, stable rate of responding with few hesitations between responding is the variable ratio reinforcement schedule. In this type of schedule, reinforcement is provided after an unpredictable number of responses, which encourages a high and steady rate of response without significant pauses after reinforcement. This schedule is considered the most powerful type of partial reinforcement and is highly resistant to extinction. An example of this schedule in practice is gambling, where the reward (winning) follows an unpredictable number of plays.
Other reinforcement schedules include the fixed ratio, variable interval, and fixed interval schedules, each with distinct patterns of response. The fixed ratio schedule requires a set number of responses before reinforcement, leading to a high rate of response followed by a short pause. The variable interval schedule provides reinforcement at unpredictable time intervals, resulting in moderate, steady response rates, whereas the fixed interval schedule rewards behavior after a set amount of time, typically causing a scalloped pattern of response rates.