Which concept describes reinforcement for some but not all occurrences of the behavior?

• A. History of Reinforcement
• B. Internal Validity
• C. Inform Consent
• D. Intermittent Schedule of Reinforcement

Answer: (B)

Intermittent schedules of reinforcement deliver reinforcement for some but not all occurrences of a behavior. This means the behavior is reinforced on a pattern or rule rather than every time it occurs, such as after a certain number of responses or after a certain amount of time, with the exact occurrence of reinforcement varying. This contrasts with continuous reinforcement, where every instance is reinforced. Partial or intermittent reinforcement often leads to slower acquisition but greater resistance to extinction, because the learner cannot predict precisely when reinforcement will come and keeps responding. The other terms refer to different ideas: history of reinforcement concerns how past reinforcement influences current behavior, internal validity is about the rigor of a study’s design, and informed consent is about ethical permission to participate. The concept described by the question is the intermittent schedule of reinforcement.