Reinforcement schedules are strategies used in behavioral psychology to determine how and when rewards are given to encourage desired behaviors. These schedules can be categorized into two main types: continuous reinforcement, where a reward is provided every time a behavior occurs, and partial reinforcement, where rewards are given only some of the time. Partial reinforcement can be further divided into fixed and variable schedules. A fixed schedule provides rewards after a set number of responses or a specific time period, while a variable schedule offers rewards after an unpredictable number of responses or time intervals. These schedules help shape behavior effectively in various settings, including education and animal training.