ORG B 320 Lesson 7

OB Mod

A formal procedure focused on improving task performance through positive reinforcement of desired behaviors and extinction of undesired behaviors.

halo effect

A perception problem in which an individual assesses a person positively or negatively in all situations based on an existing general assessment of the person.

projecting

A perception problem in which an individual assumes that others share his or her values and beliefs.

stereotyping

A perception problem in which an individual bases perceptions about members of a group on a generalized set of beliefs about the characteristics of a group of individuals.

fundamental attribution problem

A perception problem in which an individual is too likely to attribute the behavior of others to internal rather than external causes.

self-serving bias

A perception problem in which an individual is too likely to attribute the failure of others to internal causes and the successes of others to external causes, whereas the same individual will be too likely to attribute his own failure to external causes and his own successes to internal causes.

perception

A process that involves sensing various aspects of a person, task, or event and forming impressions based on selected inputs.

Learning

A process through which individuals change their relatively permanent behavior based on positive or negative experiences in a situation.

punishment

A reinforcement contingency in which a behavior is followed by a negative consequence, thereby reducing the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated in the same or similar situations.

positive reinforcement

A reinforcement contingency in which a behavior is followed by a positive consequence, thereby increasing the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated in the same or similar situations.

extinction

A reinforcement contingency in which a behavior is followed by the absence of a previously encountered positive consequence, thereby reducing the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated in the same or similar situations.

negative reinforcement

A reinforcement contingency in which a behavior is followed by the withdrawal of a previously encountered negative consequence, thereby increasing the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated in the same or similar situations.

intermittent reinforcement

A reinforcement schedule in which a reward does not occur after each instance of a behavior or set of behaviors.

continuous reinforcement

A reinforcement schedule in which a reward occurs after each instance of a behavior or set of behaviors.

Social Cognitive theory

An explanation for consequence-based learning that acknowledges the higher mental functioning of human beings and the role such functioning can play in learning.

Operant conditioning theory

An explanation for consequence-based learning that assumes learning results from simple conditioning and that higher mental functioning is irrelevant.

self-efficacy

An individual's belief that he or she will be able to perform a specific task in a given situation.

A fundamental attribution problem occurs when an individual is too likely to attribute the behavior of others to external causes rather than internal causes.

False

Three specific methods an organization can use to train employees are OB Mod, stimulation, and learning from failure.

False

implicit person theories

Personal theories about what personality traits and abilities occur together and how these attributes are manifested in behavior.

A way to facilitate adult learning is to explain the importance of what is being learned.

True

Behaviorists adopted the position that all behavior is the result of simple conditioning.

True

A failure that does not result in learning is

a mistake

Associates introduced to a new organization or to new tasks may need to learn new ___________ that will make them ____________ in the new situation.

behaviors, effective

Learning takes place only when changes in what occur:

capabilities

The simplest schedule is ________, where a reward occurs after each instance of a particular behavior or set of behaviors.

continuous reinforcement

The simplest schedule is ________________, where a reward occurs after each instance of a particular behavior or set of behaviors.

continuous reinforcement

As a manager, you have been attentive and understanding of complaints by John about his co-workers. You have hoped that this would help John's commitment to the team you lead. Lately, you have realized that John's complaints have been mostly trivial. Recognizing this, you refuse to listen whenever John complains about his co-workers. This is an example of

extinction

When a manager consistently believes that the subordinate is responsible for poor performance, s/he is guilty of

fundamental attribution error.

Learning refers to relatively ________ changes in human capabilities.

permanent

Learning refers to relatively _____________ changes in human capabilities.

permanent

OB Mod research reveals that ________ coupled with ________ can be as effective as monetary reinforcers coupled with feedback.

social reinforcements; performance feedback

Typically, women are perceived to be gentler and more nurturing than men. This is an example of

sterotyping

consensus

the degree in which other people in the same situation behave in the same way

distinctiveness

the degree to which the same person behaves differently in other situations

consistency

the extent to which the same person behaves in the same manner in the same situation over time

Learning from failure, OB Mod, and simulations are three learning methods organizations use to ________ associates.

train

A way to facilitate adult learning is to explain the importance of what is being learned.

true

The halo effect occurs when a person makes a general assessment of another person and then uses this general impression to interpret everything the person does.

true

When an individual attributes the behavior of others to internal rather than external causes, he or she may be making what is called the "fundamental attribution error."

true

To be a successful salesperson, Jessica must always be at her best because she knows that there would be a variable number of sales contacts occurring between actual sales. This is an example of

variable ratio