Question 1

Which of the following motivation theories does NOT use a cognitive explanation of behaviour?
A) Expectancy
B) ERG
C) Equity
D) Reinforcement
E) Hierarchy of needs

Accepted Answer

Reinforcement theory does not use a cognitive explanation of behavior; instead, it focuses on how behavior is influenced by its consequences, such as rewards or punishments, without considering the individual's mental processes or perceptions.

Question 2

A manager who issues a written reprimand to an employee who reports late for work one day is using:
A) negative reinforcement.
B) punishment.
C) extinction.
D) frustration-regression.
E) deficit conditioning.

Accepted Answer

Punishment involves administering an undesirable consequence to reduce the occurrence of a behavior. In this case, the written reprimand serves as a punishment for the employee's tardiness, aiming to decrease the likelihood of future late arrivals.

Question 3

The power of OB Mod in the workplace is dramatically illustrated by a number of success stories regarding all of the following EXCEPT:
A) increased productivity.
B) decreased communication problems.
C) decreased absenteeism.
D) decreased tardiness.
E) improved safety.

Accepted Answer

OB Mod (Organizational Behavior Modification) is primarily focused on modifying and improving specific behaviors to enhance productivity, decrease absenteeism and tardiness, and improve safety. It does not directly target communication problems, as these are more complex and involve interpersonal skills and organizational culture beyond simple behavior modification.

Question 4

Reinforcement theory considers __________ to be the most important factor that influences human behaviour.
A) environmental consequences
B) valence of rewards
C) the desire to maximise expectancies
D) the perceived equity of rewards
E) the level of need satisfaction that is associated with a reward

Accepted Answer

Reinforcement theory posits that behavior is driven by its consequences. Thus, environmental consequences, which can be rewards or punishments following certain behaviors, are considered the most important factor influencing human behavior according to this theory.

Question 5

Behaviour acquired under a(n) __________ schedule will be more permanent than behaviour acquired under a continuous schedule.
A) payroll
B) work
C) intermittent
D) asymmetric
E) symmetric

Accepted Answer

Intermittent reinforcement schedules, where rewards are given after an unpredictable number of responses or intervals of time, tend to produce more persistent behavior compared to continuous reinforcement, where every correct response is rewarded. This is because the unpredictability makes the behavior more resistant to extinction.

Question 6

Paying people for their performance is consistent with which of the following motivation theories?
A) Hierarchy of needs, ERG and acquired-needs theories
B) ERG, acquired-needs and equity theories
C) Equity, expectancy and reinforcement theories
D) Hierarchy of needs, ERG and two-factor theories
E) ERG, equity and expectancy theories

Accepted Answer

C) Equity, expectancy, and reinforcement theories all directly relate to the concept of performance-based pay. Equity theory suggests that individuals are motivated by fairness in the rewards they receive compared to others. Expectancy theory posits that individuals are motivated when they believe their efforts will lead to desired performance and rewards. Reinforcement theory focuses on shaping behavior by controlling the consequences of that behavior, which aligns with the idea of rewarding performance.

Question 7

An organisational behaviour modification strategy designed to strengthen or increase the frequency of a behaviour by making the avoidance of an unpleasant consequence contingent on the occurrence of the behaviour is called:
A) extinction.
B) punishment
C) negative reinforcement.
D) deficit conditioning.
E) punishment.

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement increases the frequency of a behavior by removing or avoiding an unpleasant consequence when the behavior occurs, which is different from punishment that aims to decrease a behavior.

Question 8

One way to succeed with __________ is to give reinforcement on a continuous basis until the desired behaviour is developed, and then use an intermittent schedule to maintain the behaviour at its new level.
A) shaping
B) progression
C) expectancy development
D) classical conditioning
E) forming

Accepted Answer

Shaping involves reinforcing successive approximations of a target behavior until the desired behavior is achieved. Starting with continuous reinforcement helps establish the behavior, and switching to intermittent reinforcement helps maintain it over time.

Question 9

Guidelines for using positive reinforcement include all of the following EXCEPT:
A) maintain a narrow inventory of rewards.
B) recognise individual differences in allocating rewards.
C) inform everyone what must be done to get rewards.
D) clearly identify desirable work behaviours.
E) follow the laws of contingent and immediate reinforcement.

Accepted Answer

Maintaining a narrow inventory of rewards is not recommended because it fails to account for individual differences in preferences and motivations. Recognizing individual differences, informing everyone about the criteria for rewards, clearly identifying desirable behaviors, and following the principles of contingent and immediate reinforcement are all effective guidelines for using positive reinforcement.

Question 10

Ethical issues regarding the use of OB Mod include which of the following?
A) Ignoring the fact that people can be motivated by factors other than externally administered rewards
B) Ignoring the individuality of people
C) Restricting people's freedom of choice
D) All of the options listed
E) None of the options listed

Accepted Answer

All the options listed (A, B, C) are ethical issues regarding the use of Organizational Behavior Modification (OB Mod). OB Mod can overlook intrinsic motivation, individual differences, and may limit personal autonomy.

Question 11

All of the following are guidelines for the effective use of punishment EXCEPT:
A) tell the individual what is being done wrong.
B) make sure the punishment matches the behaviour.
C) tell the individual what is being done right.
D) punish openly and in public.
E) follow the laws of contingent and immediate reinforcement.

Accepted Answer

Punishing openly and in public can be harmful and counterproductive, as it may lead to embarrassment, resentment, and a lack of trust. Effective punishment should be private, respectful, and focused on improving behavior rather than shaming.

Question 12

The law of contingent reinforcement advises managers to:
A) use both punishment and positive reinforcement to gain maximum impact on behaviour.
B) give rewards in small doses at first and then increase their magnitude when the desirable behaviour is displayed more permanently.
C) focus on verbal praise and recognition as opposed to money when giving rewards.
D) give rewards only if the desired behaviour is exhibited.
E) give rewards as soon as possible following the occurrence of a desirable behaviour.

Accepted Answer

The law of contingent reinforcement states that rewards should be given only if the desired behavior is exhibited, ensuring that the reinforcement is directly linked to the behavior.

Question 13

The system of awarding pay increases in proportion to individual performance contributions is a:
A) Scanlon system.
B) gain-sharing system.
C) skills-based pay system.
D) profit-sharing system.
E) merit pay system.

Accepted Answer

Merit pay systems award pay increases based on individual performance contributions, aligning employee compensation with their performance levels.

Question 14

A pay for knowledge program that pays workers according to the number of job-relevant skills they master is called:
A) specialty-based pay.
B) knowledge-based pay.
C) skills-based pay.
D) experience-based pay.
E) bonus pay.

Accepted Answer

Skills-based pay is a compensation system where employees are paid based on the number of job-relevant skills they have mastered.

Question 15

An organisational behaviour modification strategy designed to eliminate or decrease the frequency of a behaviour by making the removal of a pleasant consequence contingent on the occurrence of the behaviour is called:
A) frustration-regression.
B) deficit conditioning.
C) punishment.
D) negative reinforcement.
E) extinction.

Accepted Answer

Extinction involves removing a positive consequence following a behavior, leading to a decrease in the frequency of that behavior.

Question 16

__________ reinforcement administers a reward each time a desired behaviour occurs.
A) Selective
B) Continuous
C) Intermittent
D) Immediate
E) Contingent

Accepted Answer

Continuous reinforcement involves giving a reward every time a desired behavior is exhibited, ensuring the behavior is reinforced each time it occurs.

Question 17

__________ will elicit a desired behaviour more quickly than will intermittent reinforcement.
A) Continuous reinforcement
B) Punishment
C) Extinction
D) Positive reinforcement
E) Negative reinforcement

Accepted Answer

Continuous reinforcement, where a behavior is reinforced every time it occurs, leads to quicker learning of the desired behavior compared to intermittent reinforcement, where responses are only sometimes reinforced.

Question 18

A manager nodding to express approval to a subordinate who is making a useful comment during a staff meeting is an example of:
A) positive reinforcement.
B) expectancy development.
C) equity exchange.
D) executive conditioning.
E) progression.

Accepted Answer

Nodding in approval is a form of positive reinforcement, as it encourages the subordinate to continue making useful comments by providing immediate, positive feedback.

Question 19

Incentive compensation systems that pay employees based on the accomplishment of specific performance targets or for some other extraordinary contribution are called:
A) Scanlon plans.
B) fair play plans.
C) profit-sharing plans.
D) bonus pay plans.
E) entrepreneurial plans.

Accepted Answer

Bonus pay plans are designed to reward employees for achieving specific performance targets or making exceptional contributions, beyond their regular salary or wages.

Question 20

A basic premise of reinforcement theory states that behaviour that results in pleasant outcomes is likely to be repeated, and behaviour that results in unpleasant outcomes is not likely to be repeated. This premise is known as the:
A) behavioural consequences paradigm.
B) behavioural results rule.
C) law of effect.
D) reinforcement imperative.
E) outcome likelihood estimator.

Accepted Answer

The law of effect, proposed by Edward Thorndike, is the principle that behaviors followed by positive outcomes are likely to be repeated, while behaviors followed by negative outcomes are less likely to be repeated. This principle is foundational to reinforcement theory in psychology.

Quiz 15: Motivation and Rewards

Which of the following motivation theories does NOT use a cognitive explanation of behaviour?

A manager who issues a written reprimand to an employee who reports late for work one day is using:

The power of OB Mod in the workplace is dramatically illustrated by a number of success stories regarding all of the following EXCEPT:

Reinforcement theory considers __________ to be the most important factor that influences human behaviour.

Behaviour acquired under a(n) __________ schedule will be more permanent than behaviour acquired under a continuous schedule.

Paying people for their performance is consistent with which of the following motivation theories?

An organisational behaviour modification strategy designed to strengthen or increase the frequency of a behaviour by making the avoidance of an unpleasant consequence contingent on the occurrence of the behaviour is called:

One way to succeed with __________ is to give reinforcement on a continuous basis until the desired behaviour is developed, and then use an intermittent schedule to maintain the behaviour at its new level.

Guidelines for using positive reinforcement include all of the following EXCEPT:

Ethical issues regarding the use of OB Mod include which of the following?

All of the following are guidelines for the effective use of punishment EXCEPT:

The law of contingent reinforcement advises managers to:

The system of awarding pay increases in proportion to individual performance contributions is a:

A pay for knowledge program that pays workers according to the number of job-relevant skills they master is called:

An organisational behaviour modification strategy designed to eliminate or decrease the frequency of a behaviour by making the removal of a pleasant consequence contingent on the occurrence of the behaviour is called:

__________ reinforcement administers a reward each time a desired behaviour occurs.

__________ will elicit a desired behaviour more quickly than will intermittent reinforcement.

A manager nodding to express approval to a subordinate who is making a useful comment during a staff meeting is an example of:

Incentive compensation systems that pay employees based on the accomplishment of specific performance targets or for some other extraordinary contribution are called:

A basic premise of reinforcement theory states that behaviour that results in pleasant outcomes is likely to be repeated, and behaviour that results in unpleasant outcomes is not likely to be repeated. This premise is known as the: