In what schedule does a person reinforce a behavior at regular intervals, regardless of the number of responses?

The schedule that reinforces behavior at regular intervals, regardless of the number of responses, is the fixed interval schedule. In this type of reinforcement schedule, a reward is given after a specific period, such as every 5 minutes or every hour, regardless of how many times the desired behavior occurs during that time. This ensures that the individual knows exactly when to expect reinforcement, which can produce a pattern of behavior where responses increase as the time for reinforcement approaches.

For example, a student may study more as an exam date approaches to ensure they are prepared when the fixed interval time arrives. This type of schedule can lead to a "scalloped" pattern of response, where the rate of responses increases as the reinforcement time gets closer. Other schedules, such as variable interval or continuous reinforcement, operate under different principles that do not emphasize the same fixed timing structure.