Schedules of Reinforcement
Fly fishing: casting and reeling back several times before catching a fish
variable ratio
Playing Bingo
variable ratio
Signaling with your thumb while hitchhiking
variable ratio
Slot machines at gambling casinos
variable ratio
Pop quizzes
variable interval
Getting a paycheck every other week
Fixed interval
Watching for shooting stars
variable interval
On average, a baseball player gets a hit every 10 times they swing the bat
Variable ratio
An athlete's contract specifies salary increases to be renegotiated every three years
fixed interval
Checking the mail, assuming the mail carrier comes at the same time every day
fixed interval
Checking the refrigerator to see if the JELL-O is ready
fixed interval
Looking at your watch during a lecture until the end of the lecture
fixed interval
A factory worker who is paid on piece work
fixed ratio
A salesperson who gets paid on commission
fixed ratio
A worker receives $1 for every 100 envelopes stuffed and sealed
fixed ratio
Collecting bottles, cans, or other recyclables for cash
fixed ratio
Frequent flyer program: rewards after flying X amount of miles
fixed ratio
Buying lottery tickets
variable ratio
A person refrains from drugs for fear of random drug testing
variable interval
Calling a friend and getting a busy signal because he or she is frequently on the phone
variable interval
Calling the mechanic to find out if your car is fixed yet
variable interval
