AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -In a variable ratio reinforcement schedule, the number of responses needed for a reward varies. This is the most powerful partial reinforcement schedule. An example of the variable ratio reinforcement schedule is gambling.

Detailed explanation-2: -An example of a fixed-ratio schedule would be delivering a food pellet to a rat after it presses a bar five times.

Detailed explanation-3: -Examples. Facebook users checking to see how many likes they received for a post and Twitter users counting followers are working on a variable ratio partial reinforcement schedule. People hunting for bargains in Amazon’s gold box are working on a fixed interval partial reinforcement schedule.

Detailed explanation-4: -Partial (Intermittent) Reinforcement Schedules Organisms are tempted to persist in their behavior in hopes that they will eventually be rewarded. For instance, slot machines at casinos operate on partial schedules. They provide money (positive reinforcement) after an unpredictable number of plays (behavior).