Gholipour A Organizational Behavior. University of Tehran.

Organizational Behavior: Learning and Behavior Modification Learning and Behavior Modification

Definition of Learning A relatively permanent change in behavior (or behavior tendency) that occurs as a result of a person’s interaction with the environment. Gholipour A Organizational Behavior. University of Tehran. Learning Involves change Is relatively permanent Is acquired through experience Learning Involves change Is relatively permanent Is acquired through experience

Stimulus Response Gholipour A Organizational Behavior. University of Tehran.

Theories of Learning Law of effect Edward Thorndike Gholipour A Organizational Behavior. University of Tehran.

John Watson ( ) Founder of behaviorism Published Psychology from the Standpoint of a Behaviorist in 1919 Pavlovian and instrumental conditioning can explain much, if not all, behavior. Gholipour A Organizational Behavior. University of Tehran.

Theories of Learning Gholipour A Organizational Behavior. University of Tehran. Key Concepts Unconditioned stimulus Unconditioned response Conditioned stimulus Conditioned response Key Concepts Unconditioned stimulus Unconditioned response Conditioned stimulus Conditioned response Classical Conditioning A type of conditioning in which an individual responds to some stimulus that would not ordinarily produce such a response.

Theories of Learning Gholipour A Organizational Behavior. University of Tehran.

Theories of Learning (Operant Conditioning) Gholipour A Organizational Behavior. University of Tehran.

Theories of Learning (cont’d) Gholipour A Organizational Behavior. University of Tehran. Key Concepts Reflexive (unlearned) behavior Conditioned (learned) behavior Reinforcement Key Concepts Reflexive (unlearned) behavior Conditioned (learned) behavior Reinforcement Operant Conditioning A type of conditioning in which desired voluntary behavior leads to a reward or prevents a punishment.

Theoriesof Learning (cont’d) Theories of Learning (cont’d) Gholipour A Organizational Behavior. University of Tehran. Key Concepts Attentional processes Retention processes Motor reproduction processes Reinforcement processes Key Concepts Attentional processes Retention processes Motor reproduction processes Reinforcement processes Social-Learning Theory People can learn through observation and direct experience.

Albert Bandura: Social Cognitive Theory 12 Gholipour A Organizational Behavior. University of Tehran.

The Bobo Doll Study Albert Bandura’s Bobo doll study in 1961 was a classic study that demonstrates the social learning theory. The study showed that after viewing adults strike and kick a Bobo doll, children would imitate the behavior in another environment. This was important, as it suggests that the violence could be imitated by viewers. Results showed 88% of the children imitated aggressive behavior following the viewing of the tape of adults acting aggressively toward the doll. 8 months later 40% of the same children reproduced the violent behavior observed in the Bobo doll experiment. Gholipour A Organizational Behavior. University of Tehran.

Shaping Behavior: A Managerial Tool Positive reinforcement: Providing a reward for a desired behavior. Negative reinforcement: Removing an unpleasant consequence when the desired behavior occurs. Punishment: Applying an undesirable condition to eliminate an undesirable behavior. Extinction : Withholding reinforcement of a behavior to cause its cessation. Gholipour A Organizational Behavior. University of Tehran.

Schedules of Reinforcement Gholipour A Organizational Behavior. University of Tehran. Continuous Reinforcement: A desired behavior is reinforced each time it is demonstrated. Intermittent Reinforcement: A desired behavior is reinforced often enough to make the behavior worth repeating but not every time it is demonstrated. Fixed-Interval Schedule: Rewards are spaced at uniform time intervals. Variable-Interval Schedule: Rewards are initiated after a fixed or constant number of responses.

Schedules of Reinforcement (cont’d) Gholipour A Organizational Behavior. University of Tehran. Fixed-ratio

Intermittent Schedules of Reinforcement Gholipour A Organizational Behavior. University of Tehran.

Intermittent Schedules of Reinforcement (cont’d) Gholipour A Organizational Behavior. University of Tehran.

A-B-Cs of Behavior Modification Gholipour A Organizational Behavior. University of Tehran. Consequences What happens After behavior Employee receives attendance bonus Example Behavior What person says or does Employee attends scheduled work Antecedents What happens before behavior Attendance bonus system is announced

Job Behavior Modification Step 1: Identify Target behavior Step 2: Functionally Analyze the Situation Step 3: Arrange Antecedents and Provide Consequences Step 4: Evaluate Results Gholipour A Organizational Behavior. University of Tehran.

Learning through Feedback Any information about consequences of our behavior Clarifies role perceptions Corrective feedback improves ability Positive feedback motivates future behavior Gholipour A Organizational Behavior. University of Tehran.

Multi-Source (360 Degree) Feedback Gholipour A Organizational Behavior. University of Tehran. EvaluatedEmployee Co-workerCustomer Subordinate Project leader SupervisorCo-worker Subordinate

Giving Feedback Effectively Gholipour A Organizational Behavior. University of Tehran. Effective Feedback Specific Frequent Timely Relevant Credible

Giving Constructive Feedback 1.Be descriptive. 2.Don't use labels. 3.Don’t exaggerate. 4.Don’t be judgmental. 5.Restrict your feedback to things you know for certain. Gholipour A Organizational Behavior. University of Tehran.

Other Key Terms Self-Management Learning Through Experience Gholipour A Organizational Behavior. University of Tehran.