In a study, researchers placed rats in operant chambers where pressing a lever delivered a food pellet. One group received a pellet for every press (continuous), a second group received a pellet on average every 5 presses (variable ratio), and a third group received a pellet every fixed 30 seconds for the first press after the interval (fixed interval). Researchers later measured response rates after withdrawing reinforcement.
The "scalloped" cumulative response pattern with pauses after each reinforcement is a hallmark of which schedule?
- A
Variable ratio
- Bcheck_circle
Fixed interval
- C
Variable interval
- D
Continuous reinforcement
Explanation
Fixed-interval schedules produce a scalloped pattern: responding pauses after reinforcement and accelerates as the next interval ends.