Reinforcement 101 Practice Test

Variable ratio schedules are a type of reinforcement schedule in which a reinforcement is delivered after an unpredictable number of responses. This unpredictability creates a level of excitement and anticipation, which dramatically influences behavior. One significant effect of variable ratio schedules is that they produce high rates of responding. As individuals do not know when the next reinforcement will occur, they are likely to respond more frequently in hopes of receiving a reward.

Additionally, behaviors reinforced on a variable ratio schedule exhibit strong resistance to extinction. When reinforcement is withheld, individuals continue to engage in the behavior for a longer period because their past experiences with unpredictably timed rewards lead them to believe that persistence might soon lead to another reinforcement. This is particularly evident in scenarios such as gambling, where the potential for a win keeps individuals playing despite missing out on rewards for some time. Consequently, high rates of responding combined with increased resistance to extinction are hallmark characteristics of variable ratio schedules.