Section A
Reinforcement Schedule
Reinforcement schedule is the determination of when reinforcers are applied. It is either after every response or only after some responses. These apply to the two general categories of schedule, continuous reinforcement or intermittent reinforcement.
Continuous Reinforcement is the reinforcement of desired behaviour every time the undesired behaviour is demonstrated. It is the simplest schedule. For example, whenever the worker is late, he/she will get a 1% deduction of pay.
Intermittent Reinforcement is the reinforcement of desired behaviour when undesirable behaviours are demonstrated after a stipulated number of responses or timeframe set by reinforcer but not at every instance. There are four types of intermittent reinforcement:
Fixed Interval reinforcement is received after a set amount of time, regardless of number of responses during that time. For example, a worker gets its pay every last Friday of the month.
Fixed ratio interval is reinforcement occurs after a set number of responses, predictable. For example, whenever a worker makes 3 sales, he gets 20% commission.
Variable interval is reinforcing someone after a variable amount of time is the final schedule. For example, A boss do not do check on the worker periodically, hence the worker does not know when the next ‘check-up’ might come, he have to be working hard at all times in order to be ready.
Variable ratio interval is reinforcement based on number of responses; however it is unpredictable how many responses are needed to get the reinforcement. For example, fishing, you may catch a fish every time you cast out your line, or you may catch a fish after one cast, then after 5 more, then after 2 more, then after 6 more etc.
(Fast to very slow extinction of behaviour)
Stress
Stress is a general term applied to pressures people feel in life. When pressures