51: VARIABLE REWARDS ARE POWERFUL

51: VARIABLE REWARDS ARE POWERFUL

1. INTERVAL SCHEDULES

   • You provide a food pellet after a certain interval of time has passed, for example, five minutes. The rat gets a food pellet the first time he presses the bar after five minutes is up.
   • FIXED INTERVAL : Reinforcement is based on time and the time interval is always the same.
   • VARIABLE INTERVAL: Reinforcment is based on time. The amount of time varies, but it averages to a particular time.

2. RATIO SCHEDULES

   • Instead of basing the reinforcement on time, you base it on the number of bar presses. The rat gets a food pellet after every 10 bar presses.
   • FIXED RATIO: Reinforcement is based on the number of bar presses, and the number is always the same.
   • VARIABLE RATIO: Reinforcement is based on the number of bar presses. The number varies, but it averages to a particular ratio.
     • TAKEAWAY!
       • If you want someone to engage in a certain behavior the most, use a variable ratio schedule.
         • Playing slot machines is an example of variable ratio schedule. Put money in, press button. You don't know how long or how many times it will take to win, but the longer you play the more likely you are to win.
       • You can predict how often people will engage in certain behaviors on how they are reinforced or rewarded.

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