Which reinforcement schedule might increase overall rates of behavior?

Variable ratio schedules are particularly effective at increasing overall rates of behavior because they provide reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses. This unpredictability creates a high level of responding, as the individual is motivated to continue their behavior in hopes of receiving a reward. This schedule of reinforcement is commonly seen in scenarios such as gambling, where the reinforcement (winning) is based on an uncertain number of attempts, leading to persistent behavior.

In contrast, fixed interval schedules provide reinforcement after a specific amount of time has passed, which can lead to a lull in responding immediately after reinforcement. Fixed ratio schedules provide reinforcement after a set number of responses, which can also result in bursts of behavior followed by pauses. Continuous reinforcement, while effective for establishing new behaviors, may not sustain high rates of behavior over time since the response is reinforced every time. Thus, the variable ratio schedule stands out as the most effective for promoting high rates of behavior due to its unpredictable nature.