Interval Reinforcement: An Overview
Interval reinforcement is a type of reinforcement schedule in which a behavior is reinforced after a certain amount of time has elapsed. This type of reinforcement schedule has been used to increase the likelihood of a desired behavior’s occurrence and is often used in both educational and psychological settings. The present article provides an overview of interval reinforcement, including a definition, a discussion of various types of interval reinforcement schedules, and a review of the literature on the effectiveness of interval reinforcement.
Definition
Interval reinforcement involves the use of a reinforcement schedule in which reinforcement is delivered after a certain amount of time has elapsed. This type of reinforcement schedule is distinct from other types of reinforcement, such as continuous reinforcement, which involves the delivery of reinforcement every time a behavior is exhibited, and partial reinforcement, which involves the delivery of reinforcement after a certain number of behaviors have been exhibited.
Types of Interval Reinforcement
There are several different types of interval reinforcement schedules. The most common type is fixed-interval reinforcement, in which reinforcement is delivered after a predetermined amount of time has elapsed. For example, a student may be given a reward for completing a task after every 20 minutes of work.
In contrast, variable-interval reinforcement involves the delivery of reinforcement after an unpredictable amount of time has elapsed. For example, a behavior may be reinforced after 30 minutes one time, 10 minutes the next time, and so on.
Finally, there is also a type of interval reinforcement known as a mixed-interval reinforcement schedule, in which reinforcement is delivered after a combination of fixed and variable intervals. For example, a behavior may be reinforced after every 10 minutes one time, 20 minutes the next time, and so on.
Effectiveness of Interval Reinforcement
There is evidence that interval reinforcement is an effective way to increase the likelihood of a desired behavior. For example, a study by Roberts, Pasch, and Pasch (1998) found that when interval reinforcement was used in a classroom setting, it was effective in increasing the number of on-task behaviors exhibited by students.
Other studies have also found that interval reinforcement is an effective way to increase the occurrence of desired behaviors in both educational and psychological settings. For instance, a study by Hoch and Driscoll (1995) found that interval reinforcement was effective in increasing the frequency of target behaviors in children with autism.
Conclusion
In conclusion, interval reinforcement is a type of reinforcement schedule that is used to increase the likelihood of a desired behavior’s occurrence. There are several different types of interval reinforcement schedules, including fixed-interval, variable-interval, and mixed-interval reinforcement schedules. Studies have found that interval reinforcement is an effective way to increase the occurrence of desired behaviors in both educational and psychological settings.
References
Hoch, H., & Driscoll, M. (1995). An evaluation of interval reinforcement with children with autism. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 16(3), 171-183.
Roberts, C., Pasch, A., & Pasch, R. (1998). The effects of fixed-interval reinforcement on on-task behavior in a classroom setting. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 31(4), 539-543.