Asked by Sarah-Anne Clark on Jul 27, 2024
Verified
Jackie is always buying several packs of baseball cards, but only a fraction of those packs actually add new cards to her collection. She is likely on a __________
A) fixed-ratio.
B) variable-ratio.
C) fixed-interval.
D) variable-interval.
Variable-Ratio
A schedule of reinforcement where a response is reinforced after an unpredictable number of responses, leading to a high and steady rate of response.
Fixed-Ratio
A reinforcement schedule in operant conditioning where a response is reinforced only after a specified number of responses.
Baseball Cards
Collectible items featuring baseball players, often traded or sold among enthusiasts and known for their historical and monetary value.
- Discern between several types of reinforcement schedules (fixed-ratio, variable-ratio, fixed-interval, variable-interval) and the impacts they have on behavior.
Verified Answer
EB
Emre Bera AkarsuJul 31, 2024
Final Answer :
B
Explanation :
Jackie's behavior of buying several packs of baseball cards but only getting new cards in a fraction of those packs is indicative of a variable-ratio schedule of reinforcement. In this type of schedule, reinforcement occurs after a variable number of responses, which creates a high and steady rate of responding. In Jackie's case, she is motivated to continue buying packs of baseball cards because she never knows when she might get a new card to add to her collection.
Learning Objectives
- Discern between several types of reinforcement schedules (fixed-ratio, variable-ratio, fixed-interval, variable-interval) and the impacts they have on behavior.