Learning

&
Behavior Reinforcement

Learning
Learning is a process by which new behaviors can
be acquired.
It is generally agreed that learning involves
changes in behaviors, practicing new behaviors
and establishing permanency in the change.
Learning is a relatively permanent change in
knowledge or observable behavior that results
from practice or experience.
Most organizational behavior is learned
(remember that only 2-12% of behavior is directly
linked to personality)

Nature of Learning
Reflects through Visible Changes in Behavior
Not necessarily the improved behavior and
may be deteriorated behavior
Change in Behavior Must be Relatively
Permanent. Temporary change is not Learning
Change Must be based on Some Experience,
Practice or Training and not on physical
maturation
Requires Reinforcement
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Factors Affecting Learning

Motivation and Drive

Mental Set-up and capabilities
Quality and Nature of Learning Material
Practice and Reinforcements
Environment

Theories of Learning
Conditioning Theory :
Conditioning is making the ineffective stimulus so
effective that it invokes the hidden response
These theories are based on the premise that
learning is establishing association between
response and stimulus
They are of two types
Classical Conditioning Theory
Operant Conditioning Theory

Cognitive Theory
implies that the learning depends on the meaning
assigned to stimuli by people at their free will
Social Learning Theory

Classical Conditioning Theory

It is the association of stimulus with a

desired event resulting in a behavior
A type of conditioning in which an individual
responds to some stimulus that would not
ordinarily produce such as response.
Can be further understood by the
experiment of Nobel Prize winner, Ivan
Pavlov.

Ivan Pavlov Experiment

1. Before conditioning
Unconditioned Stimulus (Meat) Unconditioned Response (Salivation)
Conditioned stimulus (Bell) No Response

2. During Conditioning
Unconditioned Stimulus (Meat) Unconditioned Response (Salivation)
Conditioned stimulus (Bell) Unconditioned Response (Salivation)

3. After Conditioning
Conditioned stimulus (Bell) Conditioned Response (Salivation)
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Operant Conditioning Theory

A type of conditioning in which desired
voluntary behavior leads to reward or
prevents a punishment.
Here, the Consequences determine the
behavior that results in learning

Social conditioning Theory

Learning takes place by observing and
imitating others
According to the theory the learning occurs in
two steps
A person observes how other acts and create a
picture of the act and its consequences
If the acquired image is positive he tend to act in
same manner and if consequences are negative,
he tend to avoid such actions

Learning Through Reinforcement

Reinforcement can be defined as anything
that increases the strength of response
through repetition of the behavior that
preceded the response.
Reinforcement is used to enhance desirable
behavior, punishment and extinction are
employed to minimize undesirable behavior
Reinforcement strengthens the behavioral
response and increases the probability of that
response
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Type of Reinforcement
Positive Reinforcement
Strengthens and increases behavior by the
presentation of desirable consequence
For positive reinforcement to be effective
Reward should match with the needs of the employees
The greater the degree of performance, the greater
should be reward
Reward should be given immediately after the desired
behavior

Negative Reinforcement
Strengthens and increase behavior by the
termination or withdrawal of undesirable
consequence
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Type of Reinforcement
Punishment
Sometimes confused with negative reinforcement
Punishment weakens and decreases the behavior
that is being punished

Extinction
Withdrawal of a positive reinforcement to weaken
a behavior which was desirable at some point in
time but no is longer desirable

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Organizational Behavior Modification

Organizational behavior modification is
modifying or eliminating undesirable behavior
and replacing it with desirable behavior
Required for improving organizational
effectiveness
Developed on Operant Conditioning theory to
eliminate undesirable behavior with that of
desirable to attain organizational goals.

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Steps in OB Modifications
Identification:
Performance related critical behavior

Measurement:
The frequency/rate of critical behavior over time

Analysis:
Determine what circumstances lead to a particular
type of behavior

Intervention:
Develop an effective intervention strategy to
accelerate desired behavior and weaken/decelerate
the undesirable behavior

Evaluation
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