Which type of reinforcement schedule provides rewards after a variable number of responses?

The correct answer is based on the concept of reinforcement schedules in operant conditioning. A variable ratio schedule provides rewards after an unpredictable number of responses. This means that while a reinforcement is earned after a certain number of actions, that number is not fixed or predictable, which can result in high rates of responding.

For example, in a variable ratio scenario, a person could win a prize after every 5 responses one time, then after 2 responses another time, and then after 8 the next. This unpredictability keeps individuals engaged, as they continue to respond in the hope of receiving a reward, creating a strong and persistent behavior pattern.

In contrast, a fixed ratio schedule provides reinforcement after a specific, consistent number of responses, which can lead to a drop in performance once the expected reward is received. A fixed interval schedule delivers rewards after a fixed period of time, leading to a scalloped response pattern as individuals become more active just before the reinforcement is due. Continuous reinforcement rewards every instance of desired behavior, which is effective for establishing behavior but does not maintain that behavior as robustly over time as variable schedules do.