Over time, when a response occurs regularly, which schedule of reinforcement is typically used?

A schedule of reinforcement that leads to a response occurring regularly over time is indeed the intermittent schedule of reinforcement. This method is characterized by providing rewards after a certain number of responses or after a certain period, but not after every single response.

Using an intermittent schedule creates unpredictability, which can maintain a behavior over time and lead to a higher resistance to extinction compared to other schedules. When learners don't receive reinforcement consistently, it can actually motivate them to persist in their behavior as they become conditioned to expect rewards at unpredictable intervals. This uncertainty keeps the response active and ongoing because the individual continues to engage in the behavior in hopes of receiving reinforcement.

In contrast, a continuous schedule of reinforcement can lead to quicker acquisition of the behavior but often results in a higher extinction rate, as individuals may quickly become discouraged when the rewards stop. Variable and fixed schedules of reinforcement also offer their own structures, but they are not typically associated with responses happening regularly over time the way an intermittent schedule is. Thus, the nature of intermittent reinforcement makes it particularly effective for maintaining behaviors consistently over longer periods.