Question

At your job, you get paid every two weeks. What type of reinforcement schedule is this?

a) Fixed interval
b) Variable interval
c) Fixed ratio
d) Variable ratio

Answer 1

Being paid every two weeks at a job is an example of a fixed interval reinforcement schedule, while slot machines operate on a variable ratio reinforcement schedule.

Step-by-step explanation:

Getting paid every two weeks at a job corresponds to a fixed interval reinforcement schedule. This is because the reinforcement (getting paid) is provided after a set amount of time, regardless of the number of responses or amount of work done in that timeframe.

Correspondingly, slot machines typically reward gamblers according to a variable ratio reinforcement schedule since this involves a reward being given after an unpredictable number of responses, which encourages high and steady response rates with little pause after reinforcement.