What do we call a schedule where responses are not reinforced as often?

The term that describes a schedule where responses are not reinforced as frequently is an intermittent schedule of reinforcement. This approach involves reinforcing a behavior only some of the time rather than every instance of the behavior. Intermittent reinforcement is effective for maintaining behaviors over time because it can lead to higher rates of responding and increased resistance to extinction compared to continuous reinforcement, where every response is reinforced.

This schedule can take various forms, such as fixed-ratio, variable-ratio, fixed-interval, and variable-interval, each having different patterns of reinforcement. By not reinforcing every response, the behavior remains more robust and less likely to diminish quickly when reinforcement is removed, making it a critical concept in behavior modification and learning strategies.