Which type of reinforcement schedule is deemed the most effective?

Intermittent reinforcement is considered the most effective schedule for promoting persistence in behavior because it creates a variable expectation of reward, which can strengthen the link between behavior and reward. With this type of schedule, learners are rewarded for only some instances of the desired behavior rather than every instance. This unpredictability leads to greater resilience in the behavior being learned; individuals are more likely to continue the behavior in the hope that a reward may come in the future.

Research shows that behaviors reinforced intermittently are more resistant to extinction than those reinforced continuously. For example, think about how slot machines work: gamblers are more likely to keep playing because they know that rewards do not come with every play, which keeps their interest and engagement high. In essence, intermittent reinforcement leverages the power of unpredictability, making the reinforcement more impactful and the behavior more likely to endure over time.