Question

Carrie is paid a commission for every 10 boxes of candy she sells, illustrating a ______ schedule of reinforcement. How will this schedule impact extinction?

Answer 1

Answer:

fixed ratio

Explanation:

With a fixed ration schedule of reinforcement, a number of responses are set to occur prior to the reward of the behavior. Carrie sells boxes of candy in a retail store and earns a commission every time she sells. She will likely try to sell more boxes of candy so she can increase the commission she earns.

Extinction of a reinforced behaviour, in operant conditioning, can be said to happen at some point when the reinforcement stops and the speed at which this occurs depends on the reinforcement schedule. In fixed ratio schedule, extinction can happen quickly unlike what is found in variable schedule.

If carrier were to press the button for pain relief medication to be given to her by the medical professionals before the time her doctor has approved for that to happen, no medication would be given. She is on a fixed reinforcement schedule and so extinction do happen quickly when reinforcement doesn’t come at the time it is expected to occur.