Schedules Of Reinforcement (20 Examples)

Reinforcement schedules govern the timing and frequency of rewards in operant conditioning, influencing behavior repetition. These schedules, categorized as continuous or partial, dictate when a behavior is reinforced, with consequences following every instance (continuous) or intermittently (partial). The latter includes fixed interval, fixed ratio, variable interval, and variable ratio schedules, each affecting behavior differently.

What are schedules of reinforcement?

Schedules of reinforcement are the rules that control when and how often a behavior is rewarded to encourage it to repeat. Using a consequence to reinforce a behavior’s strength and likelihood of repeating is a learning process called operant conditioning. Reinforcement schedules can affect the effectiveness of operant conditioning.

Reinforcement schedules are contingency schedules. The reinforcers are only applied when the target behavior has occurred; therefore, the reinforcement is contingent on the desired behavior​.^​1​

What are the types of reinforcement schedules?

There are two main types of reinforcement schedules, each with its own variations – continuous and partial. The main difference between continuous and partial reinforcement is that continuous schedules execute after each appearance of the target behavior. In contrast, partial schedules execute only some of the time after the target behavior occurs.

What is a continuous reinforcement schedule?

A continuous reinforcement schedule applies the reinforcer (consequence) after every performance of a target behavior. This non-intermittent type of schedule is the fastest in teaching a new behavior, but it is also the easiest to stop.

What are continuous reinforcement examples?

1. Train a pet: When training a new puppy to sit, you might give it a treat every time it successfully sits on command. This continuous reinforcement helps the puppy learn the desired behavior quickly.
2. Get paid hourly at a job: You receive money continuously every hour you work.
3. Post on social media: If you have friends who like or share every time you post, that becomes a continuous reinforcement motivating more posting.
4. Play video games: Every time you jump over an obstacle, you get a point. Playing games becomes a continuous reinforcement to keep playing.
5. Study for tests: Every time you buckle down and study thoroughly for a test, you’re rewarded with a good grade.

What is a partial reinforcement schedule?

A partial reinforcement schedule applies the reinforcer occasionally after the target behavior appears, but not every single time. This intermittent type of schedule can strengthen and maintain a new behavior after it has been learned through continuous reinforcement. Behavior reinforced through a partial schedule is usually more robots and more extinction-resistant.

There are four types of intermittent reinforcement based on two dimensions – time elapsed (interval) or the number of responses made (ratio). Each dimension can be fixed or variable, resulting in 4 main types of intermittent schedules.^​2,3​

• Fixed interval schedule (FI)
• Fixed ratio schedule (FR)
• Variable interval schedule (VI)
• Variable ratio schedule (VR)

What is a fixed interval schedule (FI)?

A fixed interval schedule delivers a reward when a set amount of time has elapsed since the previous reward. This schedule trains a person or animal to time the interval when performing the behavior. 

The subject typically slows down or pauses right after a reward and then shows the behavior quickly toward the end of the interval as the next reward approaches. The break-run behavior creates scalloped patterns of responding, characteristic of fixed-interval reinforcement.^​4​

What are fixed interval schedule examples?

Here are 5 fixed interval schedule examples in real life.

1. Study for the final exam: College students often delay studying for final exams until the last minute, motivated by the fixed schedule of exams at the end of the semester.
2. Look at the clock: Check the time more frequently as it approaches the end of the workday.
3. Return library book: When the due date for borrowed books approaches, the reader quickly finishes reading the book and returns it.
4. Wait for mail delivery: Increasingly looking out the window for the mail carrier as it gets closer to the usual mail delivery time.
5. Prepare for meal: Getting hungry and preparing food as meal time approaches based on a habitual schedule.

What is a fixed ratio schedule (FR)?

Here are 5 fixed ratio schedule examples in daily life.

A fixed ratio schedule delivers a reward after a certain number of responses has been performed. Fixed ratio schedules produce a high response rate until a reward is received, followed by a pause in the behavior.

After receiving the reward, the subject is less motivated to act, creating a brief pause. The subject also learns the exact number of responses needed for a reward. Knowing they’ve ‘earned their break’, they pause briefly before continuing.

What are fixed ratio schedule examples?

Here are 5 fixed ratio schedule examples in everyday life.

1. Work for piece rate: Workers receive a payment for every 5 units of product they produce or task they complete.
2. Earn loyalty points: A free meal or coffee after every 10 purchases.
3. Earn rewards in the classroom: Teachers use a token economy where students earn tokens for good behavior. After earning a specific number of tokens, they can exchange them for a prize or privilege.
4. Read books: Libraries have summer reading programs where children receive prizes after reading a certain number of books.
5. Unlock video game levels: In video games, players obtain a set number of points to unlock new levels, abilities, or items.

What is a variable interval schedule (VI)?

A variable interval schedule delivers a reward after a variable period of time has passed since the previous reward. This schedule generates a steady, persistent performance rate due to the uncertainty about the time of the next reward. This can lead to habit-forming and hard to extinct.

The subject knows that rewards occur after a certain time threshold has passed. This encourages individuals to perform the desired action consistently to check for rewards. The behavior pace is moderate because the subject doesn’t know precisely when the reward will come but knows they likely won’t get it too frequently.

What are variable interval schedule examples?

Here are 5 variable interval schedule examples in real life.

1. Prepare for pop quizzes: Students study consistently throughout the semester to prepare for unpredictable pop quizzes.
2. Check social media: Notifications can come anytime, leading people to check their accounts frequently.
3. Wait for surprise sales or discounts: Stores may offer sales randomly, prompting customers to visit often.
4. Take random drug tests: Employers may administer random drug tests to their employees to promote a consistent drug-free lifestyle.
5. Conduct quality control: Factories or production lines perform quality checks at unpredictable intervals to ensure consistent product quality.

What is a variable ratio schedule (VR)?

A variable ratio schedule delivers a reward after a variable number of responses occurs. This schedule produces high and steady response rates. This type of schedule can be habit-forming and hard to stop.

The number of actions required to earn a reward changes each time, keeping the subject uncertain about when the next reward might occur. Since the next reward could be just one more action away, the subject remains highly motivated to keep performing the behavior.

What are variable ratio schedule examples?

Here are 5 variable ratio schedule examples in everyday life.

1. Play the slot machine: You win money unpredictably after pulling the lever a random number of times. The payoff reinforces continued play.
2. Go fishing: You catch a fish after casting your line an unpredictable number of times. Catching fish reinforces continued casting.
3. Send spam emails: Companies keep sending promotional emails, encouraging customers to open the emails and shop.
4. Check social media: Users check their social media accounts frequently, hoping to find something interesting, funny, or engaging.
5. Sell products by cold-calling: The sales representative reaches out to prospective buyers via cold calls to identify those interested in purchasing their products.

How do different reinforcement schedules affect behavior?

Here are how different reinforcement schedules affect behavior.

What is extinction in operant conditioning?

Extinction in operant conditioning is the gradual decrease and eventual disappearance of a previously reinforced behavior after the reinforcement is stopped. How fast complete extinction happens depends partly on the reinforcement schedules used in the initial learning process.

Which reinforcement schedule is the most resistant to extinction?

The variable-ratio (VR) schedule is the most effective reinforcement schedule, according to a 2001 peer-reviewed study by University College London, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology. Contrastingly, another study from the same year in the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior suggested that behaviors conditioned under variable-interval (VI) schedules exhibited greater resistance to change.^​5,6​

B.F. Skinner’s 1936 research provides a potential explanation for these differences. Skinner noted that the impact of reinforcement schedules on behavior is not uniform but varies widely depending on the psychological factors at play, such as the individual’s drive. Therefore, it would be hard to determine precisely the most effective reinforcement schedule without additional details of a situation.^​7​

What is schedule thinning?

Schedule thinning is gradually moving from a dense or continuous schedule of reinforcement to a thinner or partial schedule of reinforcement.

Why is schedule thinning important?

Schedule thinning is important because it matches reinforcement in the natural environment, as continuous reinforcement is often impractical.^​8​

Schedules of Reinforcement in Parenting

Many parents use various types of reinforcement to teach new behavior, strengthen desired behavior, or reduce undesired behavior.

A continuous schedule of reinforcement is often the best in teaching a new behavior. Once the response has been learned, intermittent reinforcement can strengthen the learning.

Reinforcement Schedules Example

Let’s go back to the potty-training example.

When parents first introduce the concept of potty training, they may give the toddler candy whenever they use the potty successfully. That is a continuous schedule.

After the child has been using the potty consistently for a few days, the parents would transition to only reward the behavior intermittently using variable reinforcement schedules.

Sometimes, parents may unknowingly reinforce undesired behavior​.

Because such reinforcement is unintended, it is often delivered inconsistently. The inconsistency serves as a variable reinforcement schedule, leading to a learned behavior that is hard to stop even after the parents have stopped applying the reinforcement.

Variable Ratio Example in Parenting

Parents usually refuse to give in when a toddler throws a tantrum in the store. But occasionally, if they’re tired or in a hurry, they may decide to buy the candy, believing they will do it just that once.

But from the child’s perspective, such concession is a reinforcer encouraging tantrum-throwing. Because the reinforcement (candy buying) is delivered at a variable schedule, the toddler throws fit regularly for the next give-in.

This is one reason why consistency is important in disciplining children.

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