SBenegaL

Category: Learning

  • Learning – Operatant Conditioning

    In the last byte, we looked at classical conditioning as a means to learning. In today’s byte, we look at operant conditioning as a means to learn!

    The beginning would be apt if we first define what operant conditioning means before we proceed. Operant conditioning is the process of modifying behavior through the use of positive or negative consequences following specific behavior. The underlying belief is that behavior is a function of its consequences; it could be positive or negative. These consequences could be positive or negative and essentially leads to 3 possible strategies of creating the consequences:

    1. Reinforcement
    2. Punishment
    3. Extinction
    These three types of consequences used in organizations to modify or influence the behavior people are: financial reinforcement, non-financial reinforcement and social reinforcement. Recent research has indicated that financial reinforcement is a stronger mode than a pay for performance and social reinforcement mechanism or even performance feedback.

  • Learning – Classical Conditioning

    In the last byte, we began our discussion on learning. In today’s byte we look at Classical conditioning.

    Before we could begin with, let’s have a look at the following diagram: which pretty much explains the famous experiment that was associated with this theory.

    The diagram here is the summary of the experiment where the behavior of a dog was changed! In summary classical conditioning deals with the modification of behavior so that a conditioned stimulus is paired with an unconditional stimulus and elicits an unconditional response.

    Taken to the real world today, it is quite possible that an individual working for long hours in front of a computer may get lower back strain as a result of poor posture, If the person becomes aware of the strain only when the manager enters the work space, then the person may develop a conditional response of lower back pain on appearance of the manager!

    The question one would also need to ask – is it so straight forward? No, for the following reasons:

    1. Humans are more complex
    2. Organizational environment are complex too!
    3. There is a phase of decision making that overrides simple conditioning.

  • Learning 1

    In the last byte, we looked at how mangers can use motivation and summarized what would need to be considered when attempting to motivate employees. In today’s byte we begin a discussion on learning.

    It would be apt to being the discussion with an understanding of the definition of learning in the organizational behavior context. Learning is a change in behavior acquired through experience. If we have a closer look at this change based definition, we can identify 2 broad ways this change in behavior could occur:

    1. Through the cognitive understanding that translates into change later on
    2. Through the feedback method of consequence of a particular action.
    Both these methods of learning are popular, but we would begin with the 2nd class of discussion over the next few bytes beginning with classical conditioning and then moving on to reinforcement strategies