Reinforcement

Reinforcement

“Anything that tends to increase the

intensity of a response and also induces
the person to repeat the behavior.”
 Positive Reinforcement

The presentation of some event which

causes the behavior to increase.

Strengthens and increases the likelihood of a

particular behavior being repeated because a
desirable consequence is presented
 Positive Reinforcement

The frog looks upward

(behavior), sees a
spider and eats it,
enjoying the flavor
(consequence).
 Negative Reinforcement
• The removal or avoidance of some event
causes the behavior to increase

Strengthens the probability of a particular

behavior being repeated by withdrawing an
undesirable consequence
 Negative Reinforcement

The hockey goalie dives for

the puck and stops it from
entering his net (behavior) to
avoid the loss of a point for
his team (consequence).
 Punishment
“Weakens and decreases the probability of occurrence
of a particular behavior”

• Types of Punishment

Positive punishment: Where you add an unpleasant

stimulus as a consequence of a response

Negative punishment: Where you remove a pleasant

stimulus as a consequence of a response
 Stimulus Behavior Action Type of
reinforcement

Praise & Positive

recognition reinforcement
Consistently
on time
Do not Negative
Timely reprimand reinforcement
submission
of reports
Withhold Extinction
Consistently praise that
Late person values

Punishment
Publicly
reprimand
 Behavior Behavior
Encouraged Suppressed

Stimulus
Positive Punishment
Presented Reinforcement

Negative Punishment
Stimulus
Removed Reinforcement
 O.B. Mod

• Organizational Behavior Modification

• Robert Kreitner & Fred Luthans

• Based on the various learning theories,

especially the principles of reinforcement
 O.B. Modification

Systematic application of positive reinforcement

principles in organizational settings for the
purpose of raising the incidence of desirable
organizational behavior.
 Objectives of OB Mod

• Functional Behavior – to be strengthened

• Dysfunctional Behavior to be weakened

 Benefits of OB Mod
• Increase
– Productivity (quality & quantity)
• Decrease
– Absenteeism
– Costs
– Defects
– Accidents
– Grievances
Steps in O.B. Mod
IDENTIFY (behavior for change)

MEASURE (frequency of response)

ANALYZE (ABC analysis)

INTERVENE (Action Step)

EVALUATE
 Identification of Performance
Behavior

Identify critical behavior i.e.

- observable & measurable
- task related
- have significant impact on
performance
 How to Identify?
Personal Approach
– from person closest to job
– actual job holder/ supervisor
Benefits
> accurate identification
> more commitment
Behavioral audit
- internal staff specialists/ outside consultant
 Measuring Critical behaviors

Baseline Measure
No of times that the identified behavior is
occurring

Methods
Direct observation
Existing data
 Functional Analysis of behaviors

Antecedents Behavior Consequences

• A – Antecedent cues
• B – Performance Behavior
• C – Contingent Consequences

Problem solving Approach

Developing effective intervention strategy

• Action Step
• Develop intervention strategy considering
organizational factors
- Positive reinforcement strategy more
effective than punishments
- Positive reinforcers – financial/non-financial
• Apply intervention
 Evaluation to ensure performance
improvement
• Kirkpatrick- levels of evaluation
- Reaction
- Learning
- Behavioral change
- Performance improvement