When transitioning to a less frequent reinforcement, what changes in the types of schedules?

Transitioning to a less frequent reinforcement typically involves moving from continuous reinforcement to intermittent reinforcement. Continuous reinforcement involves delivering a reward every time a desired behavior occurs, which is effective for quickly establishing a behavior. However, when the goal is to maintain that behavior over the long term and reduce dependency on constant rewards, changing to an intermittent schedule becomes beneficial.

Intermittent reinforcement can be delivered in various forms, such as fixed-ratio, variable-ratio, fixed-interval, or variable-interval schedules, which provide rewards only sometimes or after specific criteria are met. This type of reinforcement has been shown to create more resilient behaviors because individuals do not expect a reward after every occurrence, which can lead to greater persistence even when reinforcements are less frequent. Such schedules can reinforce behavior more effectively over time, as they can enhance motivation and make the reinforcement more valuable when it does occur.