Tamar just cannot seem to get away from the slot machines. She has no idea how many times she has to pull the levers to win money, but she is aware that at some point, she is likely to win. What schedule of reinforcement is being used in this example?

• A. Fixed interval
• B. Fixed ratio
• C. Variable interval
• D. Variable ratio

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of reinforcement schedules in operant conditioning, which are rules that dictate how and when a response will be followed by a reinforcer.
2. Identify the four main types of reinforcement schedules: fixed interval, fixed ratio, variable interval, and variable ratio.
3. Recognize that a fixed interval schedule provides reinforcement after a set period of time, while a fixed ratio schedule provides reinforcement after a set number of responses.
4. Understand that a variable interval schedule provides reinforcement at unpredictable time intervals, whereas a variable ratio schedule provides reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses.
5. Apply this understanding to the scenario: Tamar does not know how many times she needs to pull the lever to win, indicating that the reinforcement (winning) is based on an unpredictable number of responses, characteristic of a variable ratio schedule.