CHILD DEVELOPMENT PEDAGOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Gambling at a slot machine is an example of a variable ratio reinforcement schedule5. What is this? Gambling or lottery game rewards unpredictably. Each winning requires a different number of lever pulls.

Detailed explanation-2: -In operant conditioning, a variable-ratio schedule is a partial schedule of reinforcement in which a response is reinforced after an unpredictable number of responses. 1 This schedule creates a steady, high rate of response. Gambling and lottery games are good examples of a reward based on a variable-ratio schedule.

Detailed explanation-3: -What is Variable Ratio Reinforcement? Variable ratio reinforcement is one way to schedule reinforcements in order to increase the likelihood of conscious behaviors. The reinforcement, like the jackpot for a slot machine, is distributed only after a behavior is performed a certain number of times.

Detailed explanation-4: -Casinos apply a variable ratio schedule of reinforcement, so that the payoff is highly unpredictable. For example, one machine may have a VR-120 schedule. That means that on average, it will produce one payoff for every 120 times played. However, it’s not always 120.