Which reinforcement schedule delivers reinforcement after every response?

• A. Fixed-Ratio
• B. Continuous
• C. Variable-Ratio
• D. Fixed-Interval

Answer: (B)

Reinforcement schedules in operant conditioning describe how often rewards are given for a behavior. The schedule that delivers reinforcement after every response is continuous reinforcement. In this setup, each time the target behavior occurs, a reward follows, which makes learning happen quickly and is especially useful when you’re shaping a new behavior or trying to establish a habit. However, this approach isn’t very resistant to extinction, because once rewards stop, the behavior tends to stop soon after.

By comparison, a fixed-ratio schedule rewards after a set number of responses (not every response), a variable-ratio schedule rewards after an unpredictable number of responses (often producing steady, high rates of responding with strong persistence), and a fixed-interval schedule rewards the first response after a fixed amount of time (leading to bursts of responding as the time for the next reward approaches). Continuous reinforcement is the simplest and most direct way to reinforce behavior, especially during initial learning.