What does continuous reinforcement entail?

Continuous reinforcement involves providing a reward or reinforcement every time a specific behavior occurs. This approach is effective during the initial stages of learning a new behavior, as it helps establish a clear and strong connection between the behavior and the reinforcement. When the reinforcement is consistently paired with the behavior, it increases the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated in the future.

In terms of context, continuous reinforcement is particularly useful for teaching new skills or behaviors because it ensures that the learner understands exactly what behavior is being reinforced. As the learner becomes more accustomed to the behavior, practitioners often shift to partial reinforcement to maintain the behavior over time and avoid dependency on constant reinforcement.