15. Lottery tickets encourage patrons to continue playing by giving them periodic rewards after an unpredictable number of ticket purchases. This scenario describes which schedule of reinforcement?
Answer: B
Lottery tickets encourage patrons to continue playing by giving them periodic rewards after an unpredictable number of ticket purchases, which describes a variable-ratio schedule of reinforcement.
The scenario illustrates a variable-ratio schedule of reinforcement, where rewards are provided after an unpredictable number of responses, leading to high and steady rates of behavior.
A) Fixed-ratio
A fixed-ratio schedule provides reinforcement after a set number of responses. In the context of lottery tickets, this does not apply as players do not receive rewards after a predetermined number of ticket purchases, but rather after an unpredictable number.
B) Variable-ratio
A variable-ratio schedule delivers reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses, which perfectly aligns with how lottery tickets operate. Patrons receive rewards at random intervals based on their purchases, thereby encouraging continuous play.
C) Fixed-interval
A fixed-interval schedule provides reinforcement after a specific amount of time has passed, regardless of the number of responses. This is not applicable to lottery tickets, as the rewards are not based on a fixed time but rather on unpredictable purchases.
D) Variable-interval
A variable-interval schedule provides reinforcement at unpredictable time intervals. While this may lead to steady behavior, it does not accurately describe the scenario of lottery ticket rewards, which are based on the number of purchases rather than the passage of time.
Conclusion
The variable-ratio schedule of reinforcement is definitively the correct answer, as it captures the essence of how lottery tickets motivate continued participation through unpredictable rewards. All other options fail to accurately represent the reinforcement pattern described in the scenario.