Final answer:
A compound schedule that alternates reinforcement schedules unpredictably and is not tied to a discriminative stimulus is known as a multiple schedule of reinforcement. This includes alternations between variable ratio and fixed interval schedules, among others, which influence response rates and extinction resilience.
Step-by-step explanation:
The compound schedule of reinforcement that presents two or more basic schedules of reinforcement in an alternative, usually random, sequence for one or more behaviors, but isn't contingent on any discriminative stimulus (SD), is referred to as a multiple schedule of reinforcement. Unlike simple schedules that involve a single reinforcement strategy, multiple schedules alternate between different schedules without a specific signal for each schedule change. For example, a variable ratio schedule might be alternated with a fixed interval schedule randomly to reinforce a behavior. A variable ratio schedule reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses, the prime example being gambling. In contrast, a fixed interval schedule provides reinforcement after a fixed period, such as a hospital patient receiving pain relief medication at scheduled intervals. Both variable and fixed interval reinforcement schedules are types of partial or intermittent reinforcement strategies that affect the rate of response and the resistance to extinction uniquely.