Learning

Dr Musarrat Shaheen
 Definition
• “Any relatively permanent change in a person’s knowledge
or behavior due to experience”
• There are two basic types of learning:
– Non-Associative
– Associative
• Associative learning occurs through the association of two
previously unrelated stimuli, and includes reinforcement,
whereas non-associative learning occurs in response to a
single stimulus, without reinforcement.
 Characteristics of learning

• Involve change
• Is relatively permanent
• Some form of experience is required for learning
 Paradigms of Learning

1. Behaviorism
2. Cognitivism
3. Social Learning Theory
4. Social Constructivism
5. Connectivism
6. Humanism
 Significance of Learning
• Learning impacts practically all aspects of OB

• All behaviors of people in an organization are learnt, either

directly or indirectly

• The learned behaviors are:

 The skills of a worker
 Attitude of a manager
 A manager’s style of dressing

• Organizations can mould the behavior of employees through

applying learning principles to enhance their performance
 Theories of Learning

• Behaviorism Theories-
– Classical Conditioning,
– Operant Conditioning,
• Cognitive Theory and
• Social Learning Theory
 Behaviorism
• Behaviorism can be studied through:
– Observation
– Experimentation
• Behaviorist believes that people are not having “free will”, but
their surrounding and environment determine their behavior.
• When humans born their mind is “Tabula Rasa”.
• Behavior theories are based on the concept that most of our
behavior is based on conditioning.
• There are two types of behavioral learning theories:
– Classical or respondent conditioning theory
– Operant or Instrumental conditioning theory
 Behaviorism Theories of Learning
1) Classical Conditioning theory
• An individual responds to some stimulus that would
not ordinarily produce such response.
• Conditioning is a kind of response build up through
repeated exposure.
• Key Concepts—
– Unconditioned stimulus
– Unconditioned response
– Conditioned stimulus
– Conditioned response
• The concept of reflex and no conscious control are
incorporated in classical conditioning.
 Behaviorism Theory-
1) CLASSICAL CONDITIONING THEORY
(S-R)- Ivan Pavlov

• Classical conditioning is defined as a process in which a

formerly neutral stimulus, when paired with an unconditioned
stimulus, becomes a conditioned stimulus that elicits a
conditioned response

• NEUTRAL STIMULUS + UNCONDITIONED

STIMULUS = CONDITIONED STIMULUS +
CONDITONED RESPONSE

• First, there is a stimulus and then, there is a response (S-R)

Pavlov's Experiment
1. The Unconditioned Stimulus (US) triggers the
Unconditioned Response (UR)
2. The Neutral Stimulus (NS) is a stimulus that does not
elicit the Unconditioned Response (UR)
3. US and NS are repeatedly paired and presented to the
organism in conjunction
4. The pairing of US and NS transforms NS into a
Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
 Behaviorism Theories -
2) OPERANT CONDITIONING
(REINFORCEMENT) THEORY
(R-S)- F Skinner

• Consequences determine the behavior that results in learning

• Behavior is repeated depending on the reinforcement or lack of

reinforcement brought about as a consequence of a particular
behavior

• First, there is a response and then, there is a stimulus (R-S)

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpD_kzLxty8
Skinner’s Experiment
 What is Reinforcement?
• Law of Effect states that responses followed by pleasant
consequences are more likely to be repeated, while responses
followed by unpleasant consequences are less likely to be
repeated
• Reinforcement refers to a stimulus which strengthens the
probability of a particular response being repeated
• Positive Reinforcement increases the chances that a particular
behavior would be repeated because it results in a desirable
consequence
• Negative Reinforcement makes an individual repeat a
behavior not because he/she wants to but because he/she wants
to avoid negative consequence
• Punishment can be defined as an action that weakens a
particular behavior and reduces its frequency
Difference between Positive and Negative
Reinforcement and Punishment
Outcomes of Reinforcement
Schedules of Reinforcement
 COGNITIVE LEARNING THEORY –
Jean Piaget

• Cognitive Learning Theory (CLT) is about understanding how the human mind

works while people learn.
• According to Cognitive Learning Theory, certain thinking processes can lead to
more knowledge retention.
• Cognitive learning can be broken down into social cognitive theory and
behavioral cognitive theory.
• In social cognitive theory it is suggested that social interactions, things one see
around them, observed behavior, and how one interpret these things all impact
behavior and learning. (e.g., getting inspired by good grades and final outcomes)
• Behavioral Cognitive Theory states that our thoughts determine our feelings and
behavior. (e.g., fear of statistics/maths)
SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY- Albert Bandura

• Social learning theory states that people learn primarily by

observing and imitating the actions of others.

• Modeling process:Through observation a person acquires a

mental picture of an act carried out by someone and its
consequences Then, the person enacts the acquired image

• Self efficacy: The self perceptions of how well a person can

cope with situations as they arise
 People with high self efficacy tend to persevere at their tasks
and do a good job without becoming stressed out
 Observational Learning in Social Learning Theory

• In the famous Bobo doll experiment, Bandura demonstrated

that children learn and imitate behaviours they have observed
in other people.

• He identified three basic models of observational learning:

1. Live model- it involves an actual individual demonstrating

or acting out a behaviour.
2. Verbal instructional model- it involves descriptions and
explanations of a behaviour.
3. Symbolic model- it involves real or fictional characters
displaying behaviours in books, films, television programs, or
online media.
 Organisational Behaviour Modification
- Fred Luthans and Kreitner

• Behaviour modification, popularly known as OB MOD makes

use of various reinforcements to influence the behaviour of
individuals.
• OB Mod is derived and developed from the work of B.F.
Skinner. 
 OB Mod Process Steps
Step1: Identify critical performance behaviors
- (e.g., proactiveness, active listening, complaints, absenteeism)

Step2: Measuring the critical performance

behaviors
-(measuring in terms of frequency of behaviors from past records,
observation, etc)

Step3: Carrying out a functional analysis of the

behaviors
- (analysis will determine what circumstances lead to a
particular type of behaviour, what are the consequences of
such behaviour etc)

Step4: Developing an effective intervention strategy

- (These include positive or negative reinforcement, extinction or
punishment.)
Step5: Evaluation of the intervention strategy to
ensure performance improvement
- (evaluation whether the intervention strategies are working properly
or not)
 Application of OB Mod Process

• Employee productivity

• Absenteeism and Tardiness

• Safety and accident prevention

• Sales performance