In a scenario where a child makes noise to get a reaction from a parent, what type of reinforcement schedule is being used if the parent reacts after several attempts?

In the scenario where a child makes noise to elicit a reaction from a parent and the parent responds after several attempts, the most fitting description of the reinforcement schedule is the variable ratio schedule. This type of reinforcement schedule is characterized by providing a reward after an unpredictable number of responses. In this case, the child's noisy behavior is reinforced by the parent’s reaction, but the number of times the child has to make noise before receiving a response varies each time.

This variability keeps the child engaged, as they may not know exactly how many attempts will be required for a response, similar to how games of chance work—where the thrill comes from not knowing when the next reinforcement (or win) will occur. It results in a high and steady rate of response, as the anticipation of the reaction motivates the child to continue making noise. The unpredictability of the response is a core feature of the variable ratio reinforcement schedule, distinguishing it from others that have specific criteria for response or time intervals.