A Conjunctive Schedule of Reinforcement requires the completion of two or more reinforcement schedules before reinforcement is delivered. Unlike alternative schedules (where only one schedule needs to be completed), in a conjunctive schedule, all specified criteria from each schedule must be met to obtain reinforcement.
Example
A teacher sets up a conjunctive schedule for a student during a study session. The student must:
- Complete 10 math problems (fixed ratio schedule), and
- Stay on task for 5 minutes (fixed interval schedule).
Both the 10 math problems must be completed and the student must remain on task for 5 minutes before reinforcement (e.g., praise or a reward) is given. If either criterion is not met, the reinforcement is not delivered.