Which of the following scenarios exemplifies fixed ratio reinforcement schedules?
A) A construction worker making two domes a day gets an incentive of $100 for approximately 20 days.
B) A software engineer gets an incentive after completing a test case in 10 hours.
C) A lab technician gets an incentive of $5 every time he analyzes 50 blood samples.
D) A lab technician gets an incentive of $5 every time he analyzes 50 blood samples.

Question

Which of the following scenarios exemplifies fixed ratio reinforcement schedules? 
A) ​A construction worker making two domes a day gets an incentive of $100 for approximately 20 days. 
B) ​A software engineer gets an incentive after completing a test case in 10 hours. 
C) ​A lab technician gets an incentive of $5 every time he analyzes 50 blood samples. 
D) ​A lab technician gets an incentive of $5 every time he analyzes 50 blood samples.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The lab technician getting an incentive of $5 every time he analyzes 50 blood samples exemplifies a fixed ratio reinforcement schedule because he is rewarded after a fixed number of responses (analyzing 50 blood samples). The other options describe different types of reinforcement schedules. Option A describes a fixed interval reinforcement schedule where the worker is rewarded after a fixed amount of time (approximately 20 days). Option B describes a variable interval reinforcement schedule where the engineer is rewarded after an unpredictable amount of time (when they complete a test case in 10 hours). Option D is a duplicate of option C.

Which of the Following Scenarios Exemplifies Fixed Ratio Reinforcement Schedules