Learning & organisational

reward system
Compiled by
A Srinivasa Rao
Learning
Learning
Involves change
Is relatively permanent
Is acquired through experience
Learning
Any relatively permanent change in behavior
that occurs as a result of experience.
Theories of Learning
Key Concepts
Unconditioned stimulus
Unconditioned response
Conditioned stimulus
Conditioned response
Classical Conditioning (Pavlov & John
Watson)
A type of conditioning in which an individual responds
to some stimulus that would not ordinarily produce
such a response.
Classical Conditioning
Classical Conditioning
Source: The Far Side by Gary
Larson 1993 Far Works, Inc. All
rights reserved. Used with
permission.
Theories of Learning (contd)
Key Concepts
Reflexive (unlearned) behavior
Conditioned (learned) behavior
Reinforcement
Operant Conditioning (Skinner)
A type of conditioning in which desired voluntary
behavior leads to a reward or prevents a punishment.
Operant Conditioning
Operant Conditioning
Theories of Learning (contd)
Key Concepts
Attentional processes
Retention processes
Motor reproduction processes
Reinforcement processes
Social-Learning Theory (Albert Bandura
& Rotter)
People can learn through observation and direct
experience.
Necessary conditions for
effective modeling:
Attention various factors increase or decrease the amount
of attention paid. Includes distinctiveness, affective valence,
prevalence, complexity, functional value. Ones
characteristics (e.g. sensory capacities, arousal level,
perceptual set, past reinforcement) affect attention.
Retention remembering what you paid attention to.
Includes symbolic coding, mental images, cognitive
organization, symbolic rehearsal, motor rehearsal
Reproduction reproducing the image. Including physical
capabilities, and self-observation of reproduction.
Motivation having a good reason to imitate. Includes
motives such as a past (i.e. traditional behaviorism),
promised (imagined incentives) and vicarious (seeing and
recalling the reinforced model)
Social Learning Theory
Social Learning Theory
Learn by observing others and through direct experiences
Models have influence when the following processes occur:
Get rewarded Reinforcement
Motor Reproduction
Retention
Attentional Recognize
Remember
Do
Theories of Learning (contd)
Key Concepts
Reinforcement is required to change behavior.
Some rewards are more effective than others.
The timing of reinforcement affects learning
speed and permanence.
Shaping Behavior
Systematically reinforcing each successive step that
moves an individual closer to the desired response.
Cognitive theories
The cognitivist revolution replaced behaviorism in 1960s as
the dominant paradigm. Cognitivism focuses on the inner
mental activities opening the black box of the human
mind is valuable and necessary for understanding how
people learn.
Mental processes such as-
thinking,
memory,
knowing, and
problem-solving need to be explored.
Knowledge can be seen as symbolic mental constructions.
Learning is defined as change in a learners symbolic mental
constructions. Cognitivism uses the metaphor of the mind as
computer: information comes in, is being processed, and
leads to certain outcomes.
Eg., MBTI
Favorite world: Do you prefer to focus on the outer world or
on your own inner world? This is called Extraversion (E) or
Introversion (I).
Information: Do you prefer to focus on the basic information
you take in or do you prefer to interpret and add meaning? This
is called Sensing (S) or Intuition (N).
Decisions: When making decisions, do you prefer to first look
at logic and consistency or first look at the people and special
circumstances? This is called Thinking (T) or Feeling (F).
Structure: In dealing with the outside world, do you prefer to
get things decided or do you prefer to stay open to new
information and options? This is called Judging (J) or
Perceiving (P).

http://www.myersbriggs.org/my-mbti-personality-type/mbti-basics/
Principles of learning
reinforcement & punishment
Thorndikes Law of Effect;
Behavior that results in satisfying
consequences (rewards) will be repeated
Behavior that is followed by unpleasant
consequences will not be repeated.
Learning reinforcement

Types of Reinforcement
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.
Schedules of Reinforcement
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.
Schedules of Reinforcement
(contd)
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 (contd)
Fixed-ratio
E X H I B I T 24
Intermittent Schedules of Reinforcement
E X H I B I T 25
Intermittent Schedules of Reinforcement
(contd)
E X H I B I T 25 (contd)
Behavior Modification
Five Step Problem-Solving Model
1. Identify critical behaviors
2. Develop baseline data
3. Identify behavioral consequences
4. Develop and apply intervention
5. Evaluate performance improvement
OB Modification
The application of reinforcement concepts to individuals
in the work setting.
OB MOD Organizational
Applications
Well Pay versus Sick Pay
Reduces absenteeism by rewarding attendance, not
absence.
Employee Discipline
The use of punishment can be counter-productive.
Developing Training Programs
OB MOD methods improve training effectiveness.
Self-management
Reduces the need for external management control.
Thank you