When people and animals are placed on a fixed-ratio reinforcement schedule,it produces high response rates,with only brief pauses following reinforcement.Why do people and animals on fixed-ratio schedules take such short breaks before working again on their tasks?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Fixed-ratio schedules provide a reinforcement (reward) after a set number of responses. This creates a situation where the more an individual works, the more they are rewarded, making resting counterproductive to receiving rewards. Hence, resting actually reduces the opportunity for rewards, encouraging short breaks and high rates of response.

When People and Animals Are Placed on a Fixed-Ratio Reinforcement