Bart uses an old cigarette lighter that has become unreliable. It usually takes from one to 10 flicks to make it work. When the lighter is out of fluid, it will not work at all. By the time that Bart figures out the problem, he has tried flicking it 15 to 20 times. This situation illustrates the principle that
A. fixed-reinforcement schedules will produce the fastest performance.
B. intermittent-reinforcement schedules will aid prior learning.
C. interval-reinforcement schedules will produce the fastest performance.
D. variable-reinforcement schedules will produce the greatest persistence.
Answer:D
Bart uses an old cigarette lighter that has become unreliable. It usually takes from one to 10 flicks to make it work. When the lighter is out of fluid, it will not work at all. By the time that Bart figures out the problem, he has tried flicking it 15 to 20 times. This situation illustrates the principle that
A. fixed-reinforcement schedules will produce the fastest performance. B. intermittent-reinforcement schedules will aid prior learning. C. interval-reinforcement schedules will produce the fastest performance. D. variable-reinforcement schedules will produce the greatest persistence.
Explanation: D) Variable-reinforcement schedules produce the greatest persistence. Bart has learned not to expect the lighter to work every time. Thus, if he flicks it and it doesn’t light, he is conditioned to continue to flick it until it does.