Which reinforcement schedule delivers reinforcement after an unpredictable time period?

Which reinforcement schedule delivers reinforcement after an unpredictable time period?

• A. Fixed-Interval
• B. Continuous
• C. Variable-Interval
• D. Fixed-Ratio

Answer: (C)

Timing of reinforcement in operant conditioning is being tested here: when rewards come is unpredictable rather than tied to a fixed clock. A fixed-interval schedule reinforces the first response after a specific, predictable amount of time has passed, so the timing is not unpredictable. A continuous reinforcement schedule simply reinforces every response, which is about frequency, not timing variability. A variable-interval schedule delivers reinforcement after intervals that vary around a mean, so the exact moment of reinforcement is unpredictable; this tends to produce a steady rate of responding because you can’t predict when the reward will come next. A fixed-ratio schedule reinforces after a set number of responses, which again is about response count rather than time. Therefore, the option that matches an unpredictable time period is the variable-interval schedule.

Timing of reinforcement in operant conditioning is being tested here: when rewards come is unpredictable rather than tied to a fixed clock. A fixed-interval schedule reinforces the first response after a specific, predictable amount of time has passed, so the timing is not unpredictable. A continuous reinforcement schedule simply reinforces every response, which is about frequency, not timing variability. A variable-interval schedule delivers reinforcement after intervals that vary around a mean, so the exact moment of reinforcement is unpredictable; this tends to produce a steady rate of responding because you can’t predict when the reward will come next. A fixed-ratio schedule reinforces after a set number of responses, which again is about response count rather than time. Therefore, the option that matches an unpredictable time period is the variable-interval schedule.