Behavior Analysis Fundamentals Practice Test

This question is about how reinforcement schedules shape how often a behavior occurs. When reinforcement is given after an unpredictable number of responses, the learner can’t predict when the next reward will come, so they keep responding at a high rate to maximize the chance of getting reinforcement. This is the hallmark of a variable-ratio schedule: the number of responses required for reinforcement varies around an average, and the next response could be the rewarded one at any time. Because of this uncertainty, responding remains consistently vigorous and is highly resistant to extinction.

Real-world example: gambling machines where rewards are earned after a changing number of plays illustrate this pattern.

In contrast, fixed-ratio schedules produce high responding with noticeable pauses after each reinforcement; fixed-interval schedules produce bursts of responding as time approaches the interval's end; and variable-interval schedules produce steady but typically lower rates since reinforcement is tied to time rather than to the number of responses.