What type of reinforcement schedule provides reinforcement after varying amounts of time?

The type of reinforcement schedule that provides reinforcement after varying amounts of time is the variable interval schedule. This schedule is characterized by the unpredictability of reinforcement timing, meaning that the individual will receive reinforcement after an unspecified period of time has passed, which can vary from one instance to the next.

For example, in a variable interval schedule, a person might receive a reward after 3 minutes on one occasion and after 7 minutes on another, without a consistent pattern. This unpredictability encourages steady behavior because the individual cannot determine when the next reinforcement will occur, which often leads to a high rate of responding over time as they continue to engage in the behavior in hopes of receiving reinforcement.

In contrast, fixed interval schedules provide reinforcement after specific, consistent intervals of time, leading to a pattern of behavior where responses may decrease immediately after reinforcement is received, followed by a gradual increase as the next scheduled reinforcement time approaches. Fixed ratio schedules reinforce behavior after a set number of responses, which can lead to a high rate of responding until the reinforcement is delivered. Continuous reinforcement, on the other hand, provides reinforcement after every single occurrence of the behavior, establishing a strong association between the behavior and the reward but not encouraging variability in timing.