A Concurrent Schedule of Reinforcement involves two or more reinforcement schedules that are available simultaneously, allowing the individual to choose between different behaviors, each associated with its own schedule of reinforcement. The individual’s behaviorBehavior refers to any activity or action that living organ... More is influenced by the reinforcement provided by each option, allowing for the study of choice behavior.
Example:
A student is given the option to complete two different tasks during free time:
- Task A: Completing math problems, which provides reinforcement on a fixed ratio schedule (e.g., after every 5 problems, the student earns a token).
- Task B: Reading a book, which provides reinforcement on a variable interval schedule (e.g., reinforcement is provided at unpredictable times while reading).
The student can choose between these two behaviors, and their decision will depend on which schedule of reinforcement is more motivating at the time. A concurrent schedule allows researchers or practitioners to assess preferences and evaluate how different reinforcement schedules affect choice and behavior.