Final answer:
An example of a fixed interval reinforcement is a weekly paycheck, provided on a set schedule. While slot machines use a variable ratio schedule providing unpredictable rewards, a weekly paycheck allows predictability and can influence the quality of output. Fixed interval schedules are easier to extinguish once reinforcement ceases at the expected intervals.
Step-by-step explanation:
An example of a fixed interval reinforcement is a weekly paycheck. In this type of reinforcement schedule, behavior is rewarded after a set amount of time. With a fixed interval reinforcement schedule, individuals receive reinforcements at predictable time intervals, which can lead to a higher quality of output compared to other reinforcement schedules that focus on quantity, such as a fixed ratio schedule.
For instance, slot machines reward gamblers with money according to a variable ratio reinforcement schedule where the rewards are unpredictable, and this schedule is known to yield high and consistent response rates. In contrast, a fixed interval schedule, like receiving a weekly paycheck, yields predictable response patterns and reflects a significant pause after reinforcement, which commonly happens as employees wait for their next pay period after receiving their paycheck.
In operant conditioning, the effectiveness and the rate at which behavior is extinguished after reinforcement stops can depend heavily on the type of reinforcement schedule used. Fixed interval schedules tend to be the easiest to extinguish, as the behavior typically decreases once the expected reinforcement time passes without reward.