In one company, associates sell a consumer product over the telephone. For every tenth sale, associates receive a $100 cash bonus. The bonus is delivered on a _______ schedule.

A. variable-interval
B. variable-ratio
C. fixed-interval
D. fixed-ratio



Answer :

To determine the schedule on which the bonus is delivered, let's examine the details of the scenario:

1. Associates receive the bonus for every tenth sale.
2. This means the reward (bonus) is given after a fixed number of responses (sales), specifically after every 10 sales.

In psychology and behavior theory, different reinforcement schedules determine how and when a behavior is reinforced. Let's briefly go over each type of reinforcement schedule:

1. Variable-interval schedule: Reinforcement is given at unpredictable time intervals (e.g., every 5 minutes on average but not exactly every 5 minutes).
2. Variable-ratio schedule: Reinforcement is provided after a varying number of responses (e.g., on average, every 10 responses but not exactly every 10th response).
3. Fixed-interval schedule: Reinforcement is given for the first response after a fixed time period (e.g., every 10 minutes).
4. Fixed-ratio schedule: Reinforcement is provided after a fixed number of responses (e.g., every 10 responses).

Given the associates receive a $100 cash bonus for every tenth sale, it matches the definition of a fixed-ratio schedule where the reinforcement is given after a set number of responses.

Therefore, the correct answer is: fixed-ratio.

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