MCAT reinforcement schedules

[GCS-15]

The kaplan and TPR books have some conflicting info - Kaplan says variable ratio is fastest and resistant to extinction, so the order is: variable ratio, fixed ratio, variable interval, fixed interval. BUT TPR says that fixed ratio is the best so the order is: fixed ratio, variable ratio, fixed interval, variable interval.

All I know for sure is that a ratio schedule > interval schedule. But which is better: fixed or variable schedule?

Thanks!

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[aalamruad]

Variable ratio is the most resistant to extinction. Continuous reinforcement (reinforcement after every occurrence of the desired behavior) is fastest, but not very resistant to extinction partly because it is very difficult to maintain. I'm not sure which of the partial reinforcement schedules is learned most quickly.

For extinction resistance:

Priority 1: Ratio > Interval
Priority 2: Variable > Fixed

So: VR > FR > VI > FI