How do you gradually thin an interval schedule?

Gradually increasing the time interval between reinforcements is an effective strategy for thinning an interval schedule. This approach involves initially providing reinforcement at relatively short time intervals and then slowly extending these intervals over time. By doing so, individuals learn to anticipate rewards at increasingly longer durations, which can help maintain the desired behavior without the risk of rapid extinction that might occur if the reinforcement was suddenly removed.

This method reinforces the behavior not just by providing rewards but also by fostering patience and persistence in the individual as they wait for longer intervals. This strategy is particularly useful in training settings, where the goal is to encourage sustained engagement in a task or behavior through gradually increasing expectations.

The other options do not address the specific nature of thinning an interval schedule effectively. Changing the amount of reward, reducing the number of required responses, or completely changing the type of reinforcement does not align with the principles of systematically increasing time intervals targeted in effective behavior modification practices.