Which of the following is the ratio of reinforcement that will most quickly cause a newly acquired behavior to be habituated?

• A. A random ratio of tokens to correct responses
• B. A ratio of 1 token to 1 correct response
• C. A ratio of 1 token to 4 correct responses only
• D. A ratio of 1 token to 10 correct responses only

Answer: (B)

Dense reinforcement speeds up habit formation because the reward is given after every correct response, creating a very reliable and immediate link between the behavior and the consequence. A 1 token for each correct response means reinforcement occurs every time, so the learner quickly learns that performing the behavior reliably leads to reinforcement, strengthening the response fast and making it habitual. In contrast, waiting for multiple correct responses (like 1:4 or 1:10) slows the learning signal, and a random ratio makes reinforcement unpredictable, both of which delay how quickly the behavior becomes automatic. So the 1:1 ratio best promotes rapid habit formation.