A slot machine pays out after an unpredictable number of plays. This is which reinforcement schedule?
AVariable-ratio schedule
BFixed-ratio schedule
CVariable-interval schedule
DFixed-interval schedule
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. Variable-ratio schedule
1. Ratio schedules count responses, while interval schedules count elapsed time. A slot machine pays according to plays, so it is a ratio schedule.
2. Fixed means the requirement is set and predictable; variable means it changes and is unpredictable.
3. A gambler never knows how many plays the next payout needs, so the schedule is variable ratio.
4. The chapter names this the most powerful partial schedule and uses gambling as its worked example.
_Source: OpenStax Psychology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 6 "Learning", §6.3 Operant Conditioning_
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