Study of reward schedules in online slot play
Researchers investigated how reward schedules influence digital slot-machine play on a mobile app. One setting programmed the app to pay out a bonus reward exactly every 3 minutes of active play. Another setting programmed the app to pay out randomly, averaging once every 12 spins. The researchers monitored how long participants continued to spin the wheels after all payouts were permanently deactivated. They discovered that participants on the random-spin setting persevered far longer before quitting than those on the timed-payout setting.
Describe learning theory as applied to gambling. Refer to the study above in your answer.
16 exam-style questions on AQA A Level Psychology Explanations for gambling addiction. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.