Question

Shonda wants to train her dog to roll over and is unsure of how to use reinforcement to teach her dog this new trick.
A) Describe continuous and partial reinforcement and give one advantage of using each.
B) Describe each of the four schedules of partial reinforcement.
C) Which schedule of partial reinforcement should Shonda choose to use if she wants to create the highest rate of response in the shortest amount of time? Which should she use if she wants to create the most consistent rate of response?

Answer 1

A) Continuous reinforcement and partial reinforcement

In a continuous reinforcement (CR) schedule, reinforcement is delivered continuously after every response, whereas in partial reinforcement (PR) schedule, reinforcement is delivered after some responses have been generated but not after every response. One advantage of a continuous reinforcement schedule is that the desired behavior is learned quickly (acquisition of associative learning). One advantage of a partial reinforcement schedule is that once the behavior is learned, behavior is more resistant to extinct.

B) There are four schedules of partial reinforcement: fixed ratio, variable ratio, fixed interval, variable interval.

In the fixed ratio, a behavior is reinforced after a specific number of correct responses are generated. For example, a salesman gets perk after every nth delivery. In the variable ratio, a behavior is reinforced after an average number of correct responses are generated. For example, in fishing one does not know clearly after how many trials one can catch the fish. In the fixed interval, a behavior is reinforced after a specific amount of time has passed. For example, one receives a salary at the end of every month. In the variable interval, a behavior is reinforced after an average amount of time has passed. For example, a yearly bonus.

C) Shonda should use a fixed ratio schedule to create the highest rate of response in the shortest amount of time. A fixed-ratio schedule produces the fastest learning. However, if she wants to create the most consistent rate of response, she should use a variable ratio. In variable ratio the acquisition of learning is slower than fixed-ration but once acquired, it will produce a consistent response from the dog.