If you wanted a rat in a Skinner Box to respond with both a high and steady rate of responding,you should use which type of schedule of reinforcement?
A) fixed ratio
B) variable ratio
C) fixed interval
D) variable interval

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Variable ratio schedules of reinforcement have been found to reliably produce high and steady rates of responding. This is because the reinforcement is delivered after a variable number of responses, which means the rat is motivated to keep responding in the hopes of earning a reward. Fixed ratio schedules can also produce high rates of responding, but they tend to result in brief pauses in behavior after each reinforcement is delivered as the animal takes a moment to consume the reward or reset itself for the next trial. Fixed interval and variable interval schedules don't typically produce as consistent or high rates of responding as variable ratio schedules.

If You Wanted a Rat in a Skinner Box to Respond