Hawks are not successful every time they hunt; in fact, many do not survive beyond their first year of life because they do not develop sufficient hunting skills. Because hawks are never certain when they will catch something to eat, they hunt continuously to increase the chance that they will capture prey. The high rate of hunting in hawks is the product of a _______ schedule.
A) fixed interval
B) fixed ratio
C) variable interval
D) variable ratio

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The high rate of hunting in hawks is best described by a variable ratio schedule, where reinforcements (in this case, catching prey) are given after an unpredictable number of responses (hunting attempts). This leads to a high and steady response rate, as the hawks continue to hunt frequently without knowing when they will successfully catch their next meal.

Hawks Are Not Successful Every Time They Hunt; in Fact