LEARNING

Resource Material By Prof Namita Gupta

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What Is Learning?What Is Learning?

LearningLearning is a relatively permanent change in human capabilities that is not a result of growth processes.Learning - any process through which experience at one time can alter an individual’s behavior at a future time

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Learning

Any relatively permanent change in behavior that occurs as a result of experience•Learning components:

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Theories of Learning

Classical Conditioning A type of conditioning in which an individual

responds to some stimulus that would not ordinarily produce such a response.

Operant Conditioning + Reinforcement theory A type of conditioning in which desired voluntary

behavior leads to a reward or prevents a punishment.

Social-Learning Theory People can learn through observation and direct experience.

What’s this about

LEARNING?

Classical Conditioning- its historyPavlov’s Dogs-Digestive reflexes and salivation, Psychic secretion

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Classical Conditioning

UNCONDITIONED STIMULUS REFLEX ACTIONwill

elicit a

UNCONDITIONED STIMULUS

NEUTRAL STIMULUSREFLEX ACTIONwill

elicit a

CONDITIONED STIMULUSCONDITIONED STIMULUSwill

elicit aCONDITIONED

RESPONSE

NEUTRAL STIMULUSwill

elicit NO REACTION

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Stimulus

1-Neutral Stimulus-Bell-Does not normally elicit a response or reflex action by itself

A bell ringing, 2-Unconditioned Stimulus—Food

Always elicits a reflex action: an unconditioned response

Food, 3-Unconditioned Response—Salivation

A response to an unconditioned stimulus— naturally occurring

Salivation at smell of food,

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STIMULUS _Cont

After learning took place

4-Conditioned Stimulus—Bell The stimulus that was originally neutral becomes

conditioned after it has been paired with the unconditioned stimulus. Will elicit the unconditioned response by itself

5-Conditioned Response The original unconditioned response becomes

conditioned after it has been elicited by the neutral stimulus

Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning takes place all around us in our homes, as well as the workplace. Parents use rewards, or operant conditioning to get their children to do their homework.

• Type of learning in which behavior isstrengthened if followed by reinforcement ordiminished if followed by punishment

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HISTORY OF OPERANT CONDITIONING

• Famous behavioral psychologist, followed Thorndike in using animals to investigate operant conditioning.

• Skinner Box: constructed a box with a lever inside- when an animal pressed the lever, a food pellet fell out of a feeder into the box, Skinner wanted to see if rats placed in the box could learn to press the lever in order to receive the food.

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SKINNER‘s Experiment

Behaviorism -The attempt to understand observable activity in terms of observable stimuli and observable responses

Early Operant Conditioning- learning in which voluntary response are controlled by consequences

by John B. Watson (1913),B.F. Skinner (1938)-used rats

Scratch at bars

Push at ceiling

Dig at floorSituation:stimuliinside ofpuzzle box

Howl

Etc.

Etc.

Press lever

First Trialin Box

Scratch at bars

Push at ceiling

Dig at floorSituation:stimuliinside ofpuzzle box

Howl

Etc.

Etc.

Press lever

After ManyTrials in Box

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Learning-Operant Conditioning

Insert Figure 3.12 Here

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Reinforcement Theory Reinforcement Theory

Emphasizes that people are motivated to perfor or avoid certain behaviors because of past outcomes that have resulted from those behaviors

Response consequences that increase likelihood of responding in a similar way again. positive reinforcement negative reinforcement Punishment extinction

It used the fundamental of operant theory in practical practice

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Shaping: A Managerial Tool

Systematically reinforcing each successive step that moves an individual closer to the desired response.

Four Methods of Shaping Behavior: Positive reinforcement

Providing a reward for a desired behavior (learning) Negative reinforcement

Removing an unpleasant consequence when the desired behavior occurs (learning)

PunishmentApplying an undesirable condition to eliminate an

undesirable behavior (“unlearning”) Extinction

Withholding reinforcement of a behavior to cause its cessation (“unlearning”)

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Reinforcement- Consequences of behaviour

Positive reinforcement: An event’s presentation following a response increases the future probability of that response. Ex-Praising for a good sales performance by the boss.

Negative reinforcement: An event’s removal following a response increases the future probability of that response. Ex – Reduction or elimination of the future supervision/ Scolding by the boss after responsible work performances from employees.

Punishment- The process by which a stimulus or event weakens or reduces the probability of the response that it follows. Ex-Beating to a thief after being caught by the police.

Extinction-Making one forget the present response. Ex- Lack of attention paid by colleagues on another salesman who makes jokes over customers

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Schedule of Reinforcement-when &how

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Schedules of Reinforcement

Two Major Types: Continuous Reinforcement- A desired behavior is reinforced each

time it is demonstrated- EX 1 to 1 ratio, a prize every time Intermittent Reinforcement-A desired behavior is reinforced often

enough to make the behavior worth repeating but not every time it is demonstrated or in Multiple frequencies

Ex- Ratio fixed: 1prize for each race Variable: maybe a prize, maybe not!

Interval fixed: announced examination after every 1 month variable: pop quiz any time

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Types of Intermittent Reinforcement

Ratio Depends on the number of

responses made. Interval

Depends on the time between reinforcements.

Fixed Rewards are spaced at uniform time

intervals or after a set number of responses.

Variable Rewards that are unpredictable or

that vary relative to the behavior.

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Schedules of Reinforcement

E X H I B I T 2–3 E X H I B I T 2–3

Fixed-ratio

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Reinforcement Contingencies-EX

Insert Table 3.4 Here

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Classical vs. Operant Conditioning

CLASSICAL Stimulus precedes

the response and elicits it

Elicited responses Learning as a result

of association Pavlov

OPERANT Stimulus follows the

response and strengthens it

Emitted responses Learning as a result

of consequences Skinner

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The Basic Concepts of Learning Theory

Classical conditioning elicits response as a result of associating

unconditioned stimulusneutral stimulus

Operant conditioning emitted response learning is a result of consequences

reinforcerspunishment

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Processes of Social Learning TheoryProcesses of Social Learning Theory

Match Modeled

PerformanceAttention Retention

Motor Reproduction

Motivational Processes

• Model Stimuli

• Trainee

• Characteristics

• Coding

• Organization

• Rehearsal

• Physical Capability

• Accuracy

• Feedback

• Reinforcement

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Learning

Observational Learning

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Social Learning Theory Social Learning Theory (1 of 3)(1 of 3)

Emphasizes that people learn by observing other persons (models) whom they believe are credible and knowledgeable

Recognizes that behavior that is reinforced or rewarded tends to be repeated

The models’ behavior or skill that is rewarded is adopted by the observer

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Social Learning Theory Social Learning Theory (2 of 3)(2 of 3)

Learning new skills or behavior comes from: directly experiencing the consequences of using

behavior or skills, or the process of observing others and seeing the

consequences of their behavior

Learning is also influenced by a person’s self-efficacy self-efficacy – a person’s judgment about whether he

or she can successfully learn knowledge and skills

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Social Learning Theory Social Learning Theory (3 of 3)(3 of 3)

Self-efficacy can be increased using: verbal persuasion – offering words of

encouragement to convince others they can learn

logical verification – perceiving a relationship between a new task and a task already mastered

observation of others (modeling) – having employees who already have mastered the learning outcomes demonstrate them for trainees

past accomplishments – allowing employees to build a history of successful accomplishments

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The Learning Process:The Learning Process:Learning StylesLearning Styles

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Application of learning in Behavior Modification (OB Mod)

The application of reinforcement concepts to individuals in the work setting•Follows the Five-Step Problem-Solving Model

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Assignment: Experiential question to be discussed after studying the topic

Do you think manager will be able to more effectively change their subordinate’s performance by using rewards or by using punishment?

However you answer what specific steps you would take to make these efforts most effective.Explain your recommendations.

Good Luck