A restaurant manager keeps standards high because a quality inspector arrives at unpredictable times to award a bonus. This is which schedule?
AFixed-interval schedule
BVariable-interval schedule
CFixed-ratio schedule
DVariable-ratio schedule
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Variable-interval schedule
1. The bonus depends on when the inspector turns up, which is a matter of elapsed time, so this is an interval schedule.
2. The timing is unpredictable, which makes it variable rather than fixed.
3. A variable-interval schedule therefore applies, matching the chapter's fast-food manager example.
4. This schedule produces a moderate but steady rate of responding, because the manager must keep standards high at all times.
_Source: OpenStax Psychology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 6 "Learning", §6.3 Operant Conditioning_
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