1
Reinforcement
Capella University
PSY5280: Advanced Concepts in Applied Behavior Analysis
2
Reinforcement schedules are important in determining the frequency and timing of
reinforcement for a behavior, in the initial stages of teaching a new skill or behavior to a client.
The most common reinforcement schedule used is a continuous reinforcement schedule. This
schedule provides reinforcement and reinforces every occurrence of the behavior, subsequently
helping to establish a link between the behavior and the response. (Miltenberger,2023). As
behavior becomes learned and there is a need to decrease slowly the reinforcement, an
intermittent reinforcement schedule comes into play. In this schedule, only the correct response
of behavior is reinforced (Miltenberger, 2023).
Example: Name the schedule:
Arjun gets a sticker for the first correct response Fixed Interval
after a two-minute interval has passed.
, Cristina gets to pick a prize after an average of Variable Ratio
four homework papers are turned in.
One star is earned every three times Juan raises Fixed Ratio
his hand.
Kiana gets five minutes of iPad if they answer Variable Interval
correctly at the end of an interval, which lasts
five minutes on average.
Reinforcement
Capella University
PSY5280: Advanced Concepts in Applied Behavior Analysis
2
Reinforcement schedules are important in determining the frequency and timing of
reinforcement for a behavior, in the initial stages of teaching a new skill or behavior to a client.
The most common reinforcement schedule used is a continuous reinforcement schedule. This
schedule provides reinforcement and reinforces every occurrence of the behavior, subsequently
helping to establish a link between the behavior and the response. (Miltenberger,2023). As
behavior becomes learned and there is a need to decrease slowly the reinforcement, an
intermittent reinforcement schedule comes into play. In this schedule, only the correct response
of behavior is reinforced (Miltenberger, 2023).
Example: Name the schedule:
Arjun gets a sticker for the first correct response Fixed Interval
after a two-minute interval has passed.
, Cristina gets to pick a prize after an average of Variable Ratio
four homework papers are turned in.
One star is earned every three times Juan raises Fixed Ratio
his hand.
Kiana gets five minutes of iPad if they answer Variable Interval
correctly at the end of an interval, which lasts
five minutes on average.
