Schedules of Reinforcement - Help Please!

[meadr05]

Hey.

Can anybody tell me which is more resistant to extinction, a variable-ratio or a variable-interval schedule of reinforcement? I've been doing a few practice exams, and these seem to alternate between companies :S

Thanks all

[Spreadbury]

go with whichever you can justify more clearly. i'd pick variable-ratio because of the gambling example and that it's difficult to predict and thus even after reinforcement stops the response will continue.

perhaps check if VCAA asks this question? their answer is obviously the one you should take.