You are watching a rat pressing a lever in a Skinner box to obtain food pellets. The rat pauses for a long time after each food pellet is delivered, but slowly increases its rate of lever pressing as more time elapses. In this example, the reinforcement schedule that is in place is MOST likely
A) a variable-ratio schedule.
B) a fixed-interval schedule.
C) a variable-interval schedule.
D) a fixed-ratio schedule.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a fixed-interval schedule, reinforcement is provided after a fixed amount of time has passed, leading to a pattern where the subject pauses after reinforcement and then gradually increases the response rate as the time for the next reinforcement approaches.

You Are Watching a Rat Pressing a Lever in a Skinner