Jerry and his brother Joe both work in manufacturing plants, but Jerry gets a regular paycheck, whereas Joe is paid according to the number of items he produces. The difference between the way that Jerry gets paid and the way Joe gets paid is the difference between ________ schedules.
- fixed interval and fixed ratio
- fixed interval and variable ratio
- variable interval and fixed ratio
- variable interval and continuous
- variable interval and variable ratio
With a fixed interval schedule, workers are rewarded after a certain amount of time, and the length of time between reinforcement periods stays the same. Every time an employee gets a paycheck after a predetermined period of time, he or she is being reinforced on a fixed interval schedule. Fixed ratio schedules reinforce behaviors after a certain number of them have been exhibited. Consistent with this, some manufacturing plants have created piece-rate pay systems, in which workers are paid according to the number of items they produce.
Fixed Interval Schedule: Reinforcement occurs at fixed time periods.
Denise is a freelance writer who works with a number of clients. She used to charge by the hour, but she has now switched to charging by the page. In other words, she has moved from a ________ schedule.
- fixed interval to a fixed ratio
- fixed interval to a variable ratio
- variable interval to a fixed ratio
- variable interval to a continuous
- variable interval to a variable ratio
With a fixed interval schedule, workers are rewarded after a certain amount of time, and the length of time between reinforcement periods stays the same. An hourly wage is an example of a fixed interval schedule. Fixed ratio schedules reinforce behaviors after a certain number of them have been exhibited. Employees know ahead of time how many items they have to produce to be reinforced. In Denise's case, she knows how many pages she has to produce in order to be paid a certain amount of money.
Fixed Ratio Schedule: Reinforcement occurs following a fixed number of desired behaviors.
The entire process of reinforcement is a continuous cycle, and the repetition of behaviors is strengthened to the degree that reinforcement continues to occur.
The entire process of reinforcement is a continuous cycle, and the repetition of behaviors is strengthened to the degree that reinforcement continues to occur.
Continuous Reinforcement: A specific consequence follows each and every occurrence of a certain behavior.
For positive reinforcement to be successful, employees needs to see a direct link between their behavior and the desired outcome.
For positive reinforcement to be successful, an employee needs to see a direct link between his or her behavior and the desired outcome.
Positive Reinforcement: When a positive outcome follows a desired behavior.
Company meetings tend to run long because Dmitri invariably raises irrelevant points that get everyone off track discussing something that has nothing to do with the business at hand. He seems to enjoy this, but Sandra, his manager, finds it extremely annoying. Without Dmitri knowing it, she has instructed the others to remain silent the next time he tries to get everyone talking about something unrelated to the discussion. In an effort to change Dmitri's behavior, Sandra is using the contingency of reinforcement known as extinction.
Extinction occurs when there is a removal of a consequence following an unwanted behavior. When others stop "rewarding" Dmitri by talking about football or TV shows or some other unrelated topic, he will most likely stop wasting everyone's time at company meetings.
Extinction: The removal of a positive outcome following an unwanted behavior.
Research has consistently shown that fixed reinforcement schedules lead to higher levels of performance than variable schedules.
Research has consistently shown that variable schedules lead to higher levels of performance than fixed schedules.
Schedules Of Reinforcement: The timing of when contingencies are applied or removed.
________ is the idea that we learn by observing the link between our voluntary behavior and the consequences that follow it.
- Learning orientation
- Selective perception
- Operant conditioning
- Social identity theory
- Contingencies of reinforcement
Originally known as operant conditioning, B. F. Skinner was the first to pioneer the notion, originally known as operant conditioning, that we learn by observing the link between our voluntary behavior and the consequences that follow it.
Learning: A relatively permanent change in an employee’s knowledge or skill that results from experience.
Organizations use four specific consequences to modify employee behavior. These are known as
- climates for transfer.
- communities of practice.
- schedules of reinforcement.
- behavior modeling training.
- contingencies of reinforcement.
There are four specific consequences typically used by organizations to modify employee behavior, known as contingencies of reinforcement.
Contingencies Of Reinforcement: Four specific consequences used by organizations to modify employee behavior.
________ is when an unwanted outcome is removed following a desired behavior.
- Performance-prove orientation
- Performance-avoid orientation
- Behavior modeling training
- Positive reinforcement
- Negative reinforcement
Negative reinforcement occurs when an unwanted outcome is removed following a desired behavior. Have you ever performed a task for the specific reason of not getting yelled at? If so, you learned to perform certain behaviors through the use of negative reinforcement. It is important to remember that even though the word "negative" has a sour connotation to it, it is designed to increase desired behaviors.
Negative Reinforcement: An unwanted outcome is removed following a desired behavior.
________ is when an unwanted outcome follows an unwanted behavior.
- Extinction
- Punishment
- A crisis situation
- Operant conditioning
- Negative reinforcement
Punishment occurs when an unwanted outcome follows an unwanted behavior.
Punishment: When an unwanted outcome follows an unwanted behavior.
The training instructor at the state police barracks told all the trainees that they had to keep their lockers secured at all times. Brandi forgot and failed to put her lock on, so when the instructor discovered this, he made her mop the bathroom and the hallway of the barracks. This is an example of
- training.
- extinction.
- punishment.
- operant conditioning.
- negative reinforcement.
Punishment occurs when an unwanted outcome follows an unwanted behavior. Punishment is exactly what it sounds like. In other words, employees are given something they do not like as a result of performing behaviors that the organization does not like.
Punishment: When an unwanted outcome follows an unwanted behavior.
One of Val's biggest challenges as the leader of a sales team is getting team members to fill out and file their paperwork properly at the end of the day. He has tried in a number of ways to get them to comply, but nothing seems to work. He does know that no one likes to lead the daily sales meeting, which is a task that revolves among the team members on a regular basis, and that gives him an idea. The best way to achieve the result he desires is to announce that employees who
- are last to file their paperwork each day will be required to lead the sales meeting the following day, and if their paperwork is filled out incorrectly, they will have to lead the meeting the day after that, as well.
- comply with guidelines for filing their paperwork every day for a month will be exempted from leading the sales meeting at some point in the near future.
- file their paperwork correctly and on time five days in a row will be exempted from leading the sales meeting the next time their turn comes around.
- turn in their paperwork as directed every day for a two-week period will be exempted from leading the sales meeting for the next two months.
- fail to file their paperwork correctly and on time five days in a row will be required to lead the sales meeting two times in a row.
Val's issue with the sales team is a matter both of contingencies and schedules of reinforcement. In terms of contingencies, positive reinforcement and extinction should be the most common forms of reinforcement used by managers to create learning among their employees, but extinction would not apply in this situation since leading the sales meeting is considered to be an undesirable result. Therefore Val's best bet is positive reinforcement-that is, exempting the employee from leading the sales meeting as a reward for complying with guidelines. For positive reinforcement to be successful, employees need to see a direct link between their behaviors and desired outcomes, and this is where schedules of reinforcement apply. The desirable result should follow the desirable action as closely as possible, but as in many instances, a continuous schedule of reinforcement would not be practical. Therefore Val's best choice is a variable ratio schedule, which is linked with the highest potential level of performance. All of the other choices involve negative reinforcement, a less effective schedule of reinforcement, and/or an unclear link between desirable behavior and reward.
Team: Two or more people who work interdependently over some time period to accomplish common goals related to some task-oriented purpose.
________ is the removal of positive consequences following an unwanted behavior.
- Extinction
- Punishment
- Positive reinforcement
- Negative reinforcement
- Performance-avoid orientation
Extinction occurs when there is the removal of a positive consequence following an unwanted behavior. The use of extinction to reinforce behavior can be purposeful or accidental. Perhaps an employee receives attention from coworkers when he or she acts in ways that are somewhat childish at work. Finding a way to remove the attention would be a purposeful act of extinction.
Extinction: The removal of a positive outcome following an unwanted behavior.
Soon after becoming the new manager of operations at the Cooper Motors, a local car dealership, Finn discovers that employees are coming in late to work, taking long breaks, and behaving unprofessionally while on the job. After considering the situation, he introduces a new set of guidelines, along with contingencies of reinforcement. Those who show up on time, do not exceed their allotted break schedules, and show themselves behaving professionally at all times while on duty during the next month will enjoy a steak dinner, courtesy of management. Those who fail to meet the requirements, on the other hand, will be invited to stay late for three nights in a row and attend an unpaid training session. The contingencies Finn is planning to implement-the steak dinner on the one hand and the unpaid training sessions on the other-are, respectively,
- punishment and extinction.
- negative reinforcement and extinction.
- positive reinforcement and punishment.
- punishment and negative reinforcement.
- positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement.
Positive reinforcement occurs when a positive outcome follows a desired behavior-in this case, the steak dinner for employees who abide by the new guidelines. Punishment occurs when an unwanted outcome follows an unwanted behavior-that is, three nights of unpaid training sessions for those who fail to comply.
Positive Reinforcement: When a positive outcome follows a desired behavior.
In general, ________ should be the most common forms of reinforcement used by managers to create learning among their employees.
- punishment and extinction
- punishment and heuristics
- positive reinforcement and extinction
- punishment and negative reinforcement
- positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement
In general, positive reinforcement and extinction should be the most common forms of reinforcement used by managers to create learning among their employees.
Positive Reinforcement: When a positive outcome follows a desired behavior.
The two contingencies of reinforcement that are designed to decrease undesired behaviors are
- punishment and extinction.
- negative reinforcement and extinction.
- punishment and positive reinforcement.
- punishment and performance-avoid orientation.
- negative reinforcement and performance-avoid orientation.
The two contingencies of reinforcement used to decrease undesired behaviors are punishment and extinction. Punishment occurs when an unwanted outcome follows an unwanted behavior. Extinction occurs when there is the removal of a consequence following an unwanted behavior.
Contingencies Of Reinforcement: Four specific consequences used by organizations to modify employee behavior.
In ________ a specific consequence follows each and every occurrence of a desired behavior.
- a fixed ratio schedule
- a fixed interval schedule
- a variable ratio schedule
- continuous reinforcement
- a variable interval schedule
Continuous reinforcement is the simplest schedule and happens when a specific consequence follows each and every occurrence of a desired behavior. For most jobs, continuous reinforcement is impractical.
Continuous Reinforcement: A specific consequence follows each and every occurrence of a certain behavior.
Workers are rewarded after a certain amount of time, and the length of time between reinforcement periods stays the same, with
- a fixed ratio schedule.
- a fixed interval schedule.
- a variable ratio schedule.
- continuous reinforcement.
- a variable interval schedule.
A fixed interval schedule is probably the single most common form of reinforcement schedule. With this schedule, workers are rewarded after a certain amount of time, and the length of time between reinforcement periods stays the same.
Fixed Interval Schedule: Reinforcement occurs at fixed time periods.
As Taryn likes to say, she may not love her job, but she loves getting paid every two weeks. Her paycheck is an example of
- a fixed ratio schedule.
- a fixed interval schedule.
- a variable ratio schedule.
- continuous reinforcement.
- a variable interval schedule.
Taryn's employer is using a fixed interval schedule whereby workers are rewarded after a certain amount of time, and the length of time between reinforcement periods stays the same. Every time employees get a paycheck after a predetermined period of time, they are being reinforced on a fixed interval schedule.
Fixed Interval Schedule: Reinforcement occurs at fixed time periods.
When behaviors are reinforced at random points in time, ________ is being used.
- a fixed ratio schedule
- a fixed interval schedule
- a variable ratio schedule
- continuous reinforcement
- a variable interval schedule
Variable interval schedules are designed to reinforce behavior at random points in time. A supervisor walking around at different points of time every day is a good example of a variable interval schedule.
Variable Interval Schedule: Reinforcement occurs at random periods of time.
At Sound & Light, a store that sells computers, stereos, and accessories, the sales team has monthly evaluations, and the top five performers receive bonuses. This is an example of
- a fixed ratio schedule.
- a fixed interval schedule.
- a variable ratio schedule.
- continuous reinforcement.
- a variable interval schedule.
A fixed interval schedule is probably the single most common form of reinforcement schedule. With this schedule, workers are rewarded after a certain amount of time, and the length of time between reinforcement periods stays the same.
Employees at Pak-N-Sav, a discount grocery chain, know that they have to stay on their toes at all times. Mr. and Mrs. Kessler, the company founders, have been known to put on disguises and make unannounced visits to stores to make sure the staff is treating customers politely. This is an example of
- a fixed ratio schedule.
- a variable ratio schedule.
- a fixed interval schedule.
- continuous reinforcement.
- a variable interval schedule.
Variable interval schedules are designed to reinforce behavior at more random points in time. A supervisor walking around at different points of time every day is a good example of a variable interval schedule.
Variable Interval Schedule: Reinforcement occurs at random periods of time.
A slot machine is an example of
- a fixed ratio schedule.
- a fixed interval schedule.
- a variable ratio schedule.
- continuous reinforcement.
- a variable interval schedule.
Variable ratio schedules reward people after a varying number of exhibited behaviors. Take a slot machine as an example. The machine does not reward you for every lever pull or even every 10 lever pulls-you never know when the next winning pull will be.
Variable Ratio Schedule: Behaviors are reinforced after a varying number of them have been exhibited.
The simplest schedule of reinforcement is
- a fixed ratio schedule.
- a fixed interval schedule.
- a variable ratio schedule.
- continuous reinforcement.
- a variable interval schedule.
Continuous reinforcement is the simplest schedule of reinforcement and happens when a specific consequence follows each and every occurrence of a desired behavior.
Continuous Reinforcement: A specific consequence follows each and every occurrence of a certain behavior.
The ________ schedule reinforces behaviors after a certain number of them have been exhibited.
- fixed ratio
- fixed interval
- variable ratio
- continuous reinforcement
- variable interval
Fixed ratio schedules reinforce behaviors after a certain number of them have been exhibited. Employees know ahead of time how many items they have to produce to be reinforced.
Fixed Ratio Schedule: Reinforcement occurs following a fixed number of desired behaviors.