Table 1: Different Types of Reinforcement Schedules

TYPE OF
Description Advantage Disadvantage
REINFORCEMENT
Reinforcement is provided after each Learning occurs quickly. o Time consuming
correct response. o Satiation may occur
Continuous

Reinforcement is provided for some, Maintains behaviors over Not effective for teaching new
Intermittent
but not all, correct responses. time behaviors
Reinforcement is provided after a
specific number of correct responses.
Ratio reinforcement Two types of ratio reinforcement
schedule: schedules may be used: fixed and
variable.

Reinforcement is delivered after a Builds a high response Irregular responding may

specified number of correct responses. rate occur if reinforcement is
1. Fixed Ratio For example, when a learner raises his stopped
Schedule hand in class, the teacher calls on him
every third time he raises his hand.

A learner is reinforced based on an Learner’s rate of Not effective for teaching new
average number of correct responses. responding remains behaviors
For example, if the average number of constant
2. Variable Ratio
correct responses is three, a teacher
Schedule
might call on a learner after he raises
his hand two times and then after he
raises his hand four times.

Learners are reinforced after a period

Interval reinforcement of time. Two types of interval
schedules reinforcement schedules may be used:
fixed interval and variable interval.
A learner is reinforced following a Easy to implement Learner may stop using target
specified amount of time. For example, skill following reinforcement
1. Fixed interval
reinforcement is provided for every 5 and begins to work again just
schedules minutes of staying seated. before the next reinforcement
period
Reinforcement is provided after an Easy to implement
average amount of time. For example, a Not effective for teaching
2. Variable teacher might provide reinforcement new behaviors
interval on an average of every 5 minutes.
schedules Sometimes the amount of time
between reinforcement is longer than 5
minutes and sometimes it is shorter.