The first-grade plan that grants 15 minutes of free time after earning ten check marks illustrates which reinforcement concept?

The first-grade plan that grants 15 minutes of free time after earning ten check marks illustrates which reinforcement concept?

• A. Fixed-Interval Schedule
• B. Fixed-Ratio Schedule
• C. Variable-Ratio Schedule
• D. Continuous Reinforcement

Answer: (B)

The key idea is reinforcement after a set number of responses. In this plan, a child earns 15 minutes of free time only after accumulating ten check marks, and this requirement stays the same each time. That fixed count of responses before the reward defines a fixed-ratio schedule. It’s not continuous reinforcement, because the reward isn’t given after every single check mark. It isn’t fixed-interval, because the reward isn’t tied to a specific amount of time passing—it's tied to reaching a specific number of responses. It isn’t variable-ratio, because the number of responses needed isn’t changing. So this illustrates a fixed-ratio reinforcement schedule.

The key idea is reinforcement after a set number of responses. In this plan, a child earns 15 minutes of free time only after accumulating ten check marks, and this requirement stays the same each time. That fixed count of responses before the reward defines a fixed-ratio schedule. It’s not continuous reinforcement, because the reward isn’t given after every single check mark. It isn’t fixed-interval, because the reward isn’t tied to a specific amount of time passing—it's tied to reaching a specific number of responses. It isn’t variable-ratio, because the number of responses needed isn’t changing. So this illustrates a fixed-ratio reinforcement schedule.