A department store decides to use "secret shoppers" at unannounced times to test for service quality among its personnel. Store personnel are rewarded for providing excellent customer service. Which reinforcement schedule has been used in this situation?

Variable-interval reinforcement has been used in this situation.

Explanation:

The instances of the behavior that should be reinforced are determined by the reinforcement scheduling. In most of the cases the behaviors when ever it occurs it must be reinforced. In some cases the behaviors will not be reinforced. Thus the reinforcement schedule determines the behavior that must be scheduled to be reinforced.

When the reinforcement of a response occurs after unpredictable number of responses then such a reinforcement schedule refers to variable interval reinforcement. This will create a respond at higher and steady rate. In the situation given, Variable-interval reinforcement has been used.