What term denotes the pattern or rule governing when reinforcement is delivered after a behavior?

What term denotes the pattern or rule governing when reinforcement is delivered after a behavior?

• A. Punishment
• B. Extinction
• C. Motivation
• D. Schedules of Reinforcement

Answer: (D)

Timing of reinforcement after a behavior is described by schedules of reinforcement. This concept captures the pattern or rule that determines when reinforcement is delivered, not whether the behavior is learned or why it occurs. Reinforcement can be given after every occurrence (continuous) or on specific patterns (intermittent), such as fixed ratio (after a set number of responses), variable ratio (after an unpredictable number of responses), fixed interval (after a fixed time has passed), or variable interval (after varying times). These schedules influence how quickly a behavior is learned and how resistant it is to extinction. Punishment involves decreasing behavior by presenting or removing an aversive stimulus, extinction occurs when reinforcement stops following the behavior, and motivation refers to the internal or external drives that energize behavior—none of these specify the timing rule that governs reinforcement.

Timing of reinforcement after a behavior is described by schedules of reinforcement. This concept captures the pattern or rule that determines when reinforcement is delivered, not whether the behavior is learned or why it occurs. Reinforcement can be given after every occurrence (continuous) or on specific patterns (intermittent), such as fixed ratio (after a set number of responses), variable ratio (after an unpredictable number of responses), fixed interval (after a fixed time has passed), or variable interval (after varying times). These schedules influence how quickly a behavior is learned and how resistant it is to extinction. Punishment involves decreasing behavior by presenting or removing an aversive stimulus, extinction occurs when reinforcement stops following the behavior, and motivation refers to the internal or external drives that energize behavior—none of these specify the timing rule that governs reinforcement.