Chapter 2: Learning

Question 1

Learning

Answer 1

a relatively permanent change in behaviour potential that occurs due to practice or experience

Question 2

Why Do We Care About Learning?

Answer 2

learning helps to increase desired behaviors and decrease undesired behaviors

Question 3

Law of effect

Answer 3

People repeat behaviors that bring them satisfaction and pleasure, and stop those that bring them dissatisfaction and pain.

Question 4

4 primary categories of learning

Answer 4

1. practical skills - job-specific skills, knowledge, and technical competence
2. intrapersonal skills –problem solving, critical thinking, learning about alternative work processes, and risk taking
3. interpersonal skills - communicating, teamwork, and conflict resolution
4. cultural awareness - learning the social norms of organizations and understanding company goals, business operations, and company expectations and priorities

Question 5

Operant Learning

Answer 5

learning by which the subject learns to operate on the environment to achieve certain consequences

Question 6

Reinforcement

Answer 6

the process by which stimuli strengthen behaviours
- positive reinforcers work by their application to a situation, while negative reinforcers work by their removal from a situation

Question 7

Extinction

Answer 7

The gradual dissipation of behaviour following the termination of reinforcement

Question 8

Punishment

Answer 8

The application of an aversive stimulus following some behaviour designed to decrease the probability of that behaviour.

Question 9

When You Want to Use Positive Reinforcement

Answer 9

• Make sure that the reward is reinforcing to that specific individual
• Identify the correct behaviors to reinforce
• High performers should receive more than low performers
• Don’t reward wanted behaviors just before/after punishing someone
• For new behaviors, use continuous reinforcement; for established behaviors use partial
• Make sure that the reward is directly tied to the behavior
  o don’t neglect performance feedback and social recognition

Question 10

Problems Using Punishment

Answer 10

• It does not demonstrate which behaviours should replace the punished response.
• Punishment only temporarily suppresses the unwanted behaviour.
• Punishment can provoke a strong emotional reaction from the punished individual
• The employee may associate the negative consequence with the punisher
• Undesirable behavior tends to reoccur when the punisher is absent

Question 11

Performance feedback

Answer 11

Providing quantitative or qualitative information on past performance for the purpose of changing or maintaining performance in specific ways

Question 12

Social recognition

Answer 12

Informal acknowledgment, attention, praise, approval, or genuine appreciation for work well done from one individual or group to another

Question 13

Fast acquisition (Reinforcement Schedule)

Answer 13

continuous and short delay reinforcement

Question 14

Persistence (Reinforcement Schedule)

Answer 14

partial and long delay reinforcement

Question 15

Social Cognitive Theory (SCT; Albert Bandura)

Answer 15

• observing others helps us learn about the appropriateness, usefulness, and consequences of behaviors
• emphasizes the role of cognitive processes (observational learning) in learning and in the regulation of people’s behaviour.
• observational learning avoids negative consequences

Question 16

enactive learning vs versus vicarious learning

Answer 16

enactive learning (doing something)
vicarious learning (e.g., observational learning)

Question 17

Observational learning most effective when…

Answer 17

• Modelers of behavior are credible (modeler similarity to learner also matters)
• Behavior has perceived value (i.e., when we are motivated to learn; expectancy)
• When we have a chance to practice and receive feedback
• When self-efficacy is high

Question 18

Determinants of self-efficacy beliefs

Answer 18

performance mastery, observation, verbal persuasion and social influence, psychological state

Question 19

Organizational learning practices

Answer 19

1. Organizational behaviour modification (O.B. Mod)
2. Employee Recognition Programs
3. Training and development

Question 20

Organizational behaviour modification (O.B. Mod)

Answer 20

The systematic use of learning principles to influence organizational behaviour

Question 21

Employee Recognition Programs

Answer 21

= Formal organizational programs that publicly recognize and reward employees for specific behaviours
- Peer recognition programs

Question 22

Peer recognition programs

Answer 22

Formal programs in which employees can publicly acknowledge, recognize, and reward their coworkers for exceptional work and performance

Question 23

Training and development

Answer 23

= planned organizational activities that are designed to facilitate knowledge and skill acquisition to change behaviour and improve performance on one’s current job
- focuses on future job responsibilities.
- BMT

Question 24

Behaviour modelling training (BMT)

Answer 24

a training method in which trainees observe a model performing a task followed by opportunities to practise the observed behaviours

Question 25

Recommendations for Training Employees…

Answer 25

• Describe to trainees a set of well-defined behaviors (skills) to be learned
• Provide a model or models displaying the effective use of those behaviors
• Provide opportunities for trainees to practice using those behaviors
• Provide feedback and social reinforcement to trainees following practice
• Take steps to maximize the transfer of those behaviors to the job
• Use positive reinforcement and avoid punishment
• Promote self-efficacy