If you check your phone to see if you have text messages, you sometimes have one. By checking your phone frequently, you will most certainly find a text message sometimes. Which of the following schedules of reinforcement fits this example?
A) Fixed ratio
B) Fixed interval
C) Variable interval
D) Variable ratio

Question

If you check your phone to see if you have text messages, you sometimes have one.  By checking your phone frequently, you will most certainly find a text message sometimes.  Which of the following schedules of reinforcement fits this example?
A) Fixed ratio
B) Fixed interval
C) Variable interval
D) Variable ratio

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This example fits the variable interval schedule of reinforcement because the reinforcement (receiving a text message) is given after an unpredictable amount of time has passed, which is not fixed and varies.

If You Check Your Phone to See If You Have