Which schedule of reinforcement is described as a reinforcer delivered contingent upon the first behavior following a fixed time period?

The schedule of reinforcement that is characterized by a reinforcer being delivered contingent upon the first occurrence of a behavior after a fixed time period is known as a fixed interval schedule. In this type of reinforcement schedule, the time period remains constant, meaning that once the designated time has elapsed, the first instance of the target behavior will result in the delivery of the reinforcer.

For example, if a teacher gives students a treat every 10 minutes contingent upon their completing a task, the first time a student completes the task after 10 minutes has passed, they will receive a treat. This creates a scenario where individuals learn to anticipate the reward based on the fixed time intervals, leading to patterns in behavior that are aligned with these time frames.

Understanding this schedule is important as it reflects how behaviors can be shaped and maintained based on predictable timing, which can be beneficial in various educational and behavioral contexts.