LEARNING A relatively permanent change in behavior resulting from experience Learning and performance -- Performance is an indirect measure of learning but is influenced by other factors such as motivation and fatigue

LEARNING IN ORGANIZATIONS Formal learning –skill training –orientation –rules and regulations Informal learning –norms –attitudes –shortcuts in doing your job

CLASSICAL CONDITIONING unconditioned stimulus unconditioned response conditioned stimulus conditioned response Time 1 Time 2 reflex learned

SOME BASICS Extinction -- eliminating the response Generalization -- extending the response to similar stimuli Discrimination -- limiting the response to a specific stimulus Higher order conditioning -- extending the response to remote conditioned stimuli

OPERANT CONDITIONING ANTECED- ENT BEHAVIOR CONSE- QUENCE A cue about consequences ex. advice Desired organizational behavior Positive reinforcement ex. attention Negative reinforcement ex. anxiety ex. promptness

QUALITIES OF REINFORCEMENT Immediate Vs. delayed Contrived Vs natural Large Vs small Relative size

REINFORCEMENT SCHEDULES Interval schedules -- time based –fixed interval: ex. salary –variable interval: ex. spot inspections Ratio schedules -- performance based –fixed ratio: ex. piece rate –variable ratio: ex. gambling on slot machines

SHAPING Reinforcement of successive approximations of desired behavior ex. shaping neatness by rewarding behaviors which gradually move towards keeping a workplace neat

BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS Summing up: From a look at formal and informal learning to classical conditioning to operant conditioning of desired responses. Focus on qualities of reinforcement Next time: Continuation of operant conditioning and examination of observational learning