Which schedule provides reinforcement after a varying amount of time, independent of any response?

• A. VARIABLE INTERVAL
• B. VARIABLE TIME SCHEDULE
• C. FIXED INTERVAL
• D. VERIFICATION

Answer: (B)

Noncontingent reinforcement is the idea here: reinforcement delivered after varying time periods, independent of the organism’s behavior. A Variable Time schedule provides reinforcement after unpredictable time intervals, regardless of what the subject does. This means reinforcement happens on a timer, not because of a specific response.

This differs from a Variable Interval pattern, where reinforcement occurs for the first response after each variable interval (the response matters after the interval). A Fixed Interval schedule uses a constant time delay with reinforcement typically following a response after that delay. And Verification isn’t a standard schedule term. So the description matches Variable Time.