Applied Behavior Analysis Technician (ABAT) Practice Test

Which schedule provides reinforcement for the first response after a fixed duration of time?

1. Variable Interval

2. Fixed Interval

3. Variable Ratio

4. Continuous Reinforcement

The correct answer is: Fixed Interval

The schedule that provides reinforcement for the first response after a fixed duration of time is indeed the fixed interval schedule. In this approach, reinforcement is delivered following a set period during which a response must occur. For example, if a reinforcement is scheduled to occur every five minutes, a behavior is only reinforced after the individual makes their first response once that five-minute mark has passed. This pattern typically leads to a scalloped response rate, where individuals may show little to no responding immediately after reinforcement but begin to increase their responding as the time for the next reinforcement approaches. Understanding the principle of fixed intervals is crucial for managing behavior because it emphasizes the relationship between the passage of time and the opportunity to receive reinforcement, influencing how and when behaviors are exhibited. Other schedules, such as variable interval or continuous reinforcement, introduce different patterns of reinforcement that are contingent upon various factors like unpredictability or maintaining a constant rate of behavior rather than a fixed duration.