RBT Reinforcement Principles and Schedules 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A child receives a token every 5 minutes regardless of behavior. This is an example of which schedule?
- Fixed ratio
- Variable ratio
- Fixed interval (Correct answer)
- Variable interval
Correct answer: Fixed interval
Fixed interval schedules deliver reinforcement after a set amount of time has passed, regardless of response rate.
Question 2: Which reinforcement schedule is most resistant to extinction?
- Fixed ratio
- Fixed interval
- Continuous reinforcement
- Variable ratio (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Variable ratio
Variable ratio schedules produce the highest resistance to extinction because the unpredictability of reinforcement maintains responding.
Question 3: Negative reinforcement differs from punishment in that negative reinforcement:
- Decreases behavior
- Removes an aversive stimulus to increase behavior (Correct answer)
- Adds an aversive stimulus
- Is always unintentional
Correct answer: Removes an aversive stimulus to increase behavior
Negative reinforcement removes or reduces an aversive stimulus, which increases the likelihood the behavior will occur again.
Question 4: A learner is praised every single time they raise their hand. Over time, if praise is suddenly stopped, responding will likely extinguish quickly. This is because:
- Praise was too strong a reinforcer
- Continuous reinforcement schedules produce low extinction resistance (Correct answer)
- The behavior was on a variable schedule
- Punishment was introduced
Correct answer: Continuous reinforcement schedules produce low extinction resistance
Continuous reinforcement (CRF) schedules are the least resistant to extinction because each non-reinforced response is a clear signal that the contingency has changed.
Question 5: In a variable interval (VI) schedule, reinforcement is delivered:
- After a fixed number of responses
- After an average amount of time has elapsed (Correct answer)
- After every response
- After a random number of responses
Correct answer: After an average amount of time has elapsed
Variable interval schedules reinforce the first response after an average (unpredictable) amount of time has passed.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes a 'post-reinforcement pause'?
- A brief stop in behavior immediately after receiving reinforcement (Correct answer)
- A delay before a reinforcer is delivered
- A period when no reinforcement is available
- The latency between a cue and a response
Correct answer: A brief stop in behavior immediately after receiving reinforcement
A post-reinforcement pause is a temporary decrease in responding immediately after reinforcement is delivered, most common with fixed schedules.
Question 7: An RBT gives a student a sticker after every 10 correct math problems. This is which schedule of reinforcement?
- Variable ratio 10
- Fixed ratio 10 (Correct answer)
- Fixed interval 10
- Variable interval 10
Correct answer: Fixed ratio 10
Fixed ratio 10 (FR 10) means reinforcement is delivered after every 10 responses, with the ratio remaining constant.
RBT Reinforcement Principles and Schedules 3
A child receives a token every 5 minutes regardless of behavior.
This is an example of which schedule?