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LEARNING

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 Stephen.B.Robbins defined:
 Learning is any relatively permanent
change in behavior that occurs as a result of
experience.


 Steers and Porter defined:

 Learning can be defined as relatively
permanent change in behavior potentially
that results from reinforced practice or
experience.

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 Components of Learning:
uLearning involves change.
uChange in behavior must be
relatively permanent.
uBehavior acquired through
experience is considered learning.
uSome form of experience is
necessary in learning.
uLearning is a lifelong process.

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Theories of Learning:


1. Classical Conditioning Theory

2. Operant conditioning theory
3. Cognitive learning theory
4. Social learning theory

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1. Classical Conditioning Theory:

 We have all learned to respond in
specific ways to a variety of words
and symbols.
 Our lives are profoundly influenced
by associations we learn through
classical conditioning.
 Ivan Pavlov, a Russian psychologist
developed classical conditioning
theory based on his experiments.
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1. Classical Conditioning Theory:

 We have all learned to respond in
specific ways to a variety of words
and symbols.
 Our lives are profoundly influenced
by associations we learn through
classical conditioning.
 Ivan Pavlov, a Russian psychologist
developed classical conditioning
theory based on his experiments.
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1. Classical Conditioning Theory

2.
Unconditional Unconditional
 Meat Stimulus Response


 Bell Conditional Stimulus

 Conditional Stimulus
 Meat Unconditional
Stimulus


 Bell Conditional Stimulus Conditional Response

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 2. Operant Conditioning:
u Operating conditioning argues that
behavior is a function of its
consequences.
u People learn to behave to get
something they want or avoid
something they don’t want.
u Operant behavior means voluntary or
learned behavior in contrast to
reflexive or unlearned behavior.
u Tendency to repeat such behavior is
influenced by the reinforcement.

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 Example: Assume that your boss tells you that
if you will work overtime during the next
three week busy season, you will be
compensated. However, when performance
appraisal time comes, you find that you are
given no positive reinforcement for your
overtime work.
 The next time if your boss asks you to work
overtime, what will you do?
 You will probably decline! Your behavior can be
explained by operant conditioning: if a
behavior fails to be positively reinforced, the
probability that the behavior will be repeated
decline.

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 Social Learning:
 Individuals can also learn by observing what
happens to other people and just by being
told about something, as well as by direct
experiences.
 Learning comes from watching models –
parents, teachers, peers, motion picture and
television performers, bosses and so forth.

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 Cognitive Learning theory:
 Cognitive focuses on an unobservable change
in mental knowledge.
 Cognitive learning is learning achieved by thing
about the perceived relationship between
events and individual goals and
expectations.
 Cognition refers to individual’s idea’s thoughts,
knowledge, interpretation and understanding
about the individuals and environment.

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 Methods of shaping Behavior:
1. Positive reinforcement
2. Negative reinforcement
3. Punishment
4. extinction

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

 Positive reinforcement: A
response with something
pleasant is called positive
reinforcement.
 Example: boss praise and
employee for job well done.


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

 2. Negative reinforcement: a
response by the termination or
withdrawal of something
unpleasant is called negative
reinforcement.
 Example: discouraging the students

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

 3. Punishment:
 causing an unpleasant to eliminate an
attempt to eliminate an undesirable
behavior.
 Example: Giving an employee a two-
day suspension from work without
pay for showing up drunk is an
example of punishment.


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 4. Extinction:
n Eliminating any reinforcement that
is maintaining a behavior is
called extinction.
n When the behavior is not
reinforced, it tends to be
gradually extinguished.
 Example: College instructors who wish to
discourage students from asking
questions in class can eliminate in their
students by ignoring those who raise
their hands to ask questions. Hand
raising will become extinct when it is
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 Organizational Applications of
learning process:
1. Well pay versus Sick Pay
2. Employee Discipline
3. Developing Training Programs
4. Self-Management

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