What type of reinforcement involves giving a reward every time a desired behavior occurs?

The type of reinforcement that involves giving a reward every time a desired behavior occurs is known as continuous reinforcement. This reinforcement schedule ensures that every instance of the desired behavior is immediately followed by a reward, providing consistent reinforcement. This approach is highly effective in establishing and strengthening new behaviors, as it reinforces the connection between the behavior and the reinforcement immediately and clearly.

In practice, continuous reinforcement is often used in the early stages of behavior acquisition when the goal is to encourage and solidify a new behavior. By consistently rewarding every occurrence of the behavior, the individual is likely to learn more quickly what behaviors are desired.

Other reinforcement types, such as fixed ratio, variable ratio, and intermittent reinforcement, involve varying the responses or timing of the rewards, which can be less effective during the initial learning phase.