Which option lists the two kinds of ratio schedules?

Which option lists the two kinds of ratio schedules?

• A. Fixed Interval and Variable Interval
• B. Fixed Ratio and Variable Ratio
• C. Continuous reinforcement
• D. Intermittent reinforcement

Answer: (B)

Ratio schedules reinforce behavior based on the number of responses. The two kinds are fixed ratio and variable ratio. On a fixed ratio schedule, reinforcement occurs after a set number of responses (for example, after every 5 presses), which tends to produce a high response rate with a noticeable pause after each reward. On a variable ratio schedule, reinforcement happens after an unpredictable number of responses around an average (like a VR-10, where the exact number varies), leading to a high and steady rate of responding with little to no pause because the next reward could come at any time. These are distinct from interval schedules, where reinforcement depends on time intervals, and from continuous reinforcement (every response reinforced) or the broader idea of intermittent reinforcement, which includes both ratio and interval schedules but isn’t specific to the ratio types.

Ratio schedules reinforce behavior based on the number of responses. The two kinds are fixed ratio and variable ratio. On a fixed ratio schedule, reinforcement occurs after a set number of responses (for example, after every 5 presses), which tends to produce a high response rate with a noticeable pause after each reward. On a variable ratio schedule, reinforcement happens after an unpredictable number of responses around an average (like a VR-10, where the exact number varies), leading to a high and steady rate of responding with little to no pause because the next reward could come at any time. These are distinct from interval schedules, where reinforcement depends on time intervals, and from continuous reinforcement (every response reinforced) or the broader idea of intermittent reinforcement, which includes both ratio and interval schedules but isn’t specific to the ratio types.