What effect does fixed-ratio reinforcement schedule have on behavior?

A fixed-ratio reinforcement schedule is designed to provide rewards after a specific number of responses have been made. This type of schedule leads to a high rate of responding because individuals know that after they complete a certain number of behaviors, they will receive reinforcement. The predictability of the reward encourages rapid responses, as individuals are motivated to complete the required number of actions to obtain the reinforcement.

In practice, individuals tend to increase their performance leading up to the reward, producing a burst of activity or high rates of responding just before the reinforcement is provided. The consistent nature of this reinforcement schedule can result in a steady and high level of behavior until the reward is received. This pattern is notably different from other reinforcement schedules, such as variable-ratio schedules, which can produce different response behaviors due to their unpredictability.

Overall, this understanding of fixed-ratio schedules highlights why they lead to high and consistent response rates, making them effective in certain learning and behavior modification contexts.