What does a fixed-ratio reinforcement schedule reinforce?

A fixed-ratio reinforcement schedule is characterized by providing reinforcement after a specific number of responses have been made by the learner. This means that for every predetermined number of correct responses, a reward or reinforcer is offered. This type of schedule encourages high rates of responding since the individual learns that their effort will be rewarded after reaching a certain number of actions.

For instance, if a child is rewarded with a treat after completing five math problems correctly, they are likely to work diligently to reach that number quickly to receive their reinforcement. The structured nature of this schedule helps establish a clear association between the quantity of behavior (the number of responses) and the outcome (the reinforcement).

In contrast, the other options describe different reinforcement strategies. For example, reinforcing after a specified time interval refers to a fixed-interval schedule, while random reinforcement occurs in a variable-ratio schedule, where the timing and number of responses for reinforcement are unpredictable. The last option, based on a percentage of responses, does not align with fixed-ratio schedules as this concept would suggest a varying requirement that is not characteristic of fixed-ratio reinforcement.