AAMC FL Practice Exam

How does partial reinforcement affect the acquisition of a response compared to continuous reinforcement?

1. Results in faster acquisition

2. Causes immediate extinction

3. Leads to slower acquisition

4. Provides immediate reinforcement

The correct answer is: Leads to slower acquisition

Partial reinforcement refers to a schedule in which a response is only sometimes reinforced, while continuous reinforcement means every instance of a behavior is reinforced. When comparing these two methods of reinforcement in terms of acquiring a response, it is understood that partial reinforcement can indeed lead to slower acquisition of a behavior. Since not every response receives reinforcement, the organism may take longer to associate the behavior with the reward compared to situations where reinforcement is guaranteed with every occurrence of the behavior. This slower acquisition can be advantageous because it often leads to a stronger resistance to extinction. When an individual is accustomed to receiving reinforcement intermittently, they may continue to exhibit the behavior even when reinforcement is no longer provided, whereas behaviors that were continuously reinforced may extinguish more quickly once the reinforcement stops. Therefore, while the acquisition phase may take longer under partial reinforcement, the resulting behavior can be more persistent over time.