ILR Cornell

Micro-Organizational Behavior: Perception and Learning

Copyright 1999 by Brent Smith, Ph.D.

ILR Cornell

Stereotypes
Beliefs that all members of specific groups share similar traits and are prone to behave in the same way. Why do we rely on stereotypes?

Copyright 1999 by Brent Smith, Ph.D.

ILR Cornell

Overcoming Biases
Dont overlook external causes of others behavior Identify and confront your stereotypes Evaluate people based on objective factors Avoid making rash judgments

Copyright 1999 by Brent Smith, Ph.D.

ILR Cornell

Learning
A relatively permanent change in knowledge or behavior that results from practice or experience.

Copyright 1999 by Brent Smith, Ph.D.

ILR Cornell

Classical Conditioning
Learning that takes place when the learner recognizes the connection between an unconditioned stimulus and a conditioned stimulus.

Copyright 1999 by Brent Smith, Ph.D.

ILR Cornell

Stimulus
Conditioned Stimulus: A neutral stimulus that, as a result of being paired with an unconditioned stimulus, elicits a response.
Unconditioned Stimulus: Anything that produces an unconditioned response.

Copyright 1999 by Brent Smith, Ph.D.

ILR Cornell

Response
Unconditioned Response: A response that occurs naturally in the presence of a given stimulus.
Conditioned Response: A response that is called forth by a previously neutral stimulus (the conditioned stimulus.)
Copyright 1999 by Brent Smith, Ph.D.

ILR Cornell

Operant Conditioning
Learning that takes place when the learner recognizes the connection between a behavior and its consequences.
Behaviors with positive consequences are acquired. Behaviors with negative consequences are eliminated

Law of Effect: tendency for behaviors leading to desirable consequences to be strengthened and for behaviors leading to undesirable consequences to be weakened
Copyright 1999 by Brent Smith, Ph.D.

ILR Cornell

Operant Conditioning

Copyright 1999 by Brent Smith, Ph.D.

ILR Cornell

An Example
Example of the Operant Conditioning Process

Manager shows employee how to do a job

Employee performs job properly

Manager praises employee

Copyright 1999 by Brent Smith, Ph.D.

ILR Cornell

Operant Conditioning Keys

Antecedents: Anything that tells workers about desired and undesired behaviors and their consequences.
Behaviors: Desirable organizational behaviors and undesirable organizational behaviors.
Copyright 1999 by Brent Smith, Ph.D.

ILR Cornell

Operant Conditioning Keys

Consequences of Behavior: Include positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement for desirable organizational behaviors; and extinction and punishment for undesirable organizational behaviors.

Copyright 1999 by Brent Smith, Ph.D.

ILR Cornell

Consequences of Behavior
Positive Reinforcement: Administering positive consequences to workers who perform the desired behavior.
Negative Reinforcement: Removing negative consequences to workers who perform the desired behavior.
Copyright 1999 by Brent Smith, Ph.D.

ILR Cornell

Consequences of Behavior
Extinction: Removing whatever is currently reinforcing the undesirable behavior.
Punishment: Administering negative consequences to workers who perform the undesirable behavior.
Copyright 1999 by Brent Smith, Ph.D.

ILR Cornell

Operant Conditioning

Copyright 1999 by Brent Smith, Ph.D.

ILR Cornell

Reinforcement Strategies
Immediate Reinforcement Delayed Reinforcement Continuous Reinforcement Partial Reinforcement

Copyright 1999 by Brent Smith, Ph.D.

ILR Cornell

Reinforcement Schedules
Fixed-Interval Schedule Variable-Interval Schedule Fixed-Ratio Schedule Variable-Ratio Schedule

Copyright 1999 by Brent Smith, Ph.D.

ILR Cornell

Shaping
The reinforcement of successive and closer approximations to a desired behavior.

Copyright 1999 by Brent Smith, Ph.D.

ILR Cornell

Organizational Behavior Modification (O.B. Mod.)

The systematic application of the principles of operant conditioning for teaching and managing important organizational behaviors.

Copyright 1999 by Brent Smith, Ph.D.

ILR Cornell

The Basic Steps of O.B. Mod.

Identify the behavior to be learned. Measure the frequency of the behavior. Establish a criterion or goal. Choose a reinforcer. Selectively reward the desired behavior. Measure the frequency of the behavior.
Copyright 1999 by Brent Smith, Ph.D.

ILR Cornell

Social Learning Theory

A learning theory that takes into account the fact that thoughts and feelings influence learning. Necessary components include vicarious learning, self-control, and selfefficacy.

Copyright 1999 by Brent Smith, Ph.D.

ILR Cornell

Social Learning Theory

Observational Learning (Modeling): people can learn new behaviors by observing the rewards and punishments given to others.

Copyright 1999 by Brent Smith, Ph.D.