Schedule of reinforcement
A schedule of reinforcement is a rule stating which responses will be reinforced, based on the number of responses, the passage of time, or both.
On a continuous reinforcement schedule (CRF), every occurrence of the target behavior is reinforced. On an intermittent schedule, only some occurrences are reinforced. The four basic intermittent schedules are fixed ratio (FR, after a set number of responses), variable ratio (VR, after a number of responses that varies around an average), fixed interval (FI, the first response after a set time has passed), and variable interval (VI, the first response after a time that varies around an average). Extinction can be thought of as a schedule in which the behavior is never reinforced.
Each schedule tends to produce a typical pattern of responding. Ratio schedules usually produce higher rates than interval schedules, because responding faster earns reinforcement sooner. Variable schedules usually produce steadier responding than fixed ones. Intermittent schedules also make behavior more resistant to extinction than continuous reinforcement does.
In practice, a supervisor often starts teaching a new skill on continuous reinforcement and then gradually thins it to an intermittent schedule to maintain the skill and make it more natural. Thinning too quickly can cause responding to break down. RBTs need to know the schedule written in the plan and deliver reinforcement exactly on that schedule, because accidental changes can slow learning or strengthen problem behavior.
Example and non-example
| Example | A plan says "FR 3" for a token board, so an RBT gives one token after every third correct response. |
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| Non-example | Telling a client "Great job!" whenever the RBT happens to notice is not the planned schedule; it delivers unplanned intermittent reinforcement, which is why the plan specifies the rule. |
Don't confuse it with
| Intermittent reinforcement | A schedule of reinforcement is any rule, including continuous; intermittent reinforcement is the group of schedules in which only some responses are reinforced. |
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| Continuous reinforcement | Continuous reinforcement is one schedule; schedule of reinforcement is the general term for all such rules. |
Test yourself
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Question 1Which is an example of poor procedural fidelity?
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A: Delivering reinforcers on a schedule other than the planned one. Procedural fidelity is about carrying out the plan as written. Changing the reinforcement schedule is a departure from the plan.
- B: Following the written procedure is high fidelity.
- C: Recording behavior as it occurs is good data practice.
- D: Asking for clarification helps protect fidelity.
Task A.8 · 40-hour curriculum section E
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Question 2A client is learning a brand-new skill, and the plan says to reinforce every correct response. Which schedule of reinforcement is this?
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B: Continuous reinforcement. Reinforcing every occurrence of the target response is continuous reinforcement (CRF), sometimes written FR 1. It is commonly used when a skill is first being taught.
- A: A variable ratio schedule reinforces after an unpredictable number of responses, not after every one.
- C: A fixed interval schedule reinforces the first response after a set amount of time has passed.
- D: Intermittent reinforcement means only some responses are reinforced, not every one.
Task C.1 · 40-hour curriculum section A
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Question 3In a vocational program, an adult client sorts mail. As the plan directs, the RBT gives a token after every 4 pieces sorted correctly. Which schedule is this?
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A: Fixed ratio 4. The token is delivered after a set, unchanging number of responses (4), which is a fixed ratio schedule.
- B: A variable ratio 4 would deliver tokens after a changing number of responses that averages 4.
- C: A fixed interval schedule depends on time passing, not on the number of responses.
- D: Continuous reinforcement would deliver a token after every correct response.
Task C.1 · 40-hour curriculum section A
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On the RBT exam
This term belongs to task C.1 Positive and negative reinforcement in content area C, Behavior Acquisition, which is 19 of the 75 scored questions.