Question 1

The motivation theory stating that people have conscious goals that energize them and direct their thoughts and behaviors toward a particular end is

Accepted Answer

Goal-setting theory states that people have conscious goals that energize them and direct their thoughts and behaviors toward a particular end. Goal setting works for any job in which people have control over their performance.

Question 2

According to organizational behavior modification theory, positive consequences that motivate behavior are referred to as

Accepted Answer

Reinforcers are positive consequences that motivate behavior.

Question 3

In organizational behavior modification, which of the following is a key consequence of behavior?

Accepted Answer

The four key consequences of behavior that either encourage or discourage people's behavior (see Figure 13.1) are positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, punishment, and extinction.

Question 4

Applying a valued consequence to increase the likelihood that a behavior is repeated is known as

Accepted Answer

Positive reinforcement is applying a positive consequence that increases the likelihood that the person will repeat the behavior that led to it. Examples of positive reinforcers include compliments, letters of commendation, favorable performance evaluations, and pay raises.

Question 5

Negative reinforcement refers to __________ a(n) ___________ consequence.

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement is removing or withholding an undesirable consequence. For example, a manager takes an employee off probation because of improved performance.

Question 6

Forces that energize, direct, and sustain a person's efforts are known as

Accepted Answer

Motivation refers to forces that energize, direct, and sustain a person's efforts. All behavior, except involuntary reflexes like eye blinks (which have little to do with management), is motivated. A highly motivated person will work hard to achieve performance goals.

Question 7

Gabrielle is known to favor some of her employees over others. For those she dislikes, she sometimes sets impossible performance goals so that they cannot possibly succeed, and their motivation suffers. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

Extinction is withdrawing or failing to provide a reinforcing consequence. When this occurs, motivation is reduced and the behavior is extinguished, or eliminated. Ways that managers may unintentionally extinguish desired behaviors include setting impossible performance goals so a person never experiences success.

Question 8

For goals to be motivating, they must be

Accepted Answer

Well-crafted goals are meaningful, acceptable to employees, challenging but attainable, specific, and quantifiable, among other characteristics.

Question 9

In organizational behavior modification theory, giving an employee a pay raise is an example of

Accepted Answer

Positive reinforcement is applying a positive consequence that increases the likelihood that the person will repeat the behavior that led to it. Examples of positive reinforcers include compliments, letters of commendation, favorable performance evaluations, and pay raises.

Question 10

Ashton recently took an employee off probation because his performance had greatly improved, which is an example of

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement is removing or withholding an undesirable consequence. For example, a manager takes an employee off probation because of improved performance.

Question 11

Massive Waves is a surf board manufacturer that has designed its positions so that people are attracted to the organization, show up every day, and work hard while they are there. Yet most employees stay no longer than five years. This company needs to address motivation in which essential category for productive employees?

Accepted Answer

To be effective motivators, managers must know what behaviors they want to motivate people to exhibit. Although productive people do a seemingly limitless number of things, most of the important activities can be grouped into five general categories: join the organization, remain in the organization, come to work regularly, perform, and exhibit good citizenship.

Question 12

Particularly demanding goals that are designed to shift people away from mediocrity and toward major achievement are known as

Accepted Answer

Some firms today set stretch goals, which are targets that are exceptionally demanding and that some people would never even think of. Stretch goals can generate a major shift away from mediocrity and toward tremendous achievement.

Question 13

According to the guidelines of goal-setting theory, which of the following goals is likely to stimulate performance?

Accepted Answer

Well-crafted goals are meaningful, acceptable to employees, challenging but attainable, specific, and quantifiable, among other characteristics.

Question 14

Motivation refers to forces that

Accepted Answer

Motivation refers to forces that energize, direct, and sustain a person's efforts. All behavior, except involuntary reflexes like eye blinks (which have little to do with management), is motivated. A highly motivated person will work hard to achieve performance goals.

Question 15

Which of the following implies a consequence that is positive for the person receiving it?

Accepted Answer

The first two consequences in Figure 13.1, positive and negative reinforcement, are positive for the person receiving them; the person either gains something or avoids something negative. Therefore, the person who experiences these consequences will be motivated to behave in the ways that led to the reinforcement.

Question 16

According to what law, behavior that is followed by positive consequences will likely be repeated?

Accepted Answer

In 1911 psychologist Edward Thorndike formulated the law of effect: behavior that is followed by positive consequences probably will be repeated.

Question 17

Administering an aversive consequence is referred to as

Accepted Answer

Punishment is administering an aversive consequence. Examples include criticizing or shouting at an employee, assigning an unappealing task, and sending a worker home without pay.

Question 18

Removing or withholding an undesirable consequence is

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement is removing or withholding an undesirable consequence. For example, a manager takes an employee (or a school takes a student) off probation because of improved performance.

Question 19

Failure to provide positive feedback for a job well done, resulting in lower motivation thereafter, is what type of consequence of behavior?

Accepted Answer

Extinction is withdrawing or failing to provide a reinforcing consequence. When this occurs, motivation is reduced and the behavior is extinguished, or eliminated. Ways that managers may unintentionally extinguish desired behaviors include not giving a compliment for a job well done.

Question 20

Withdrawing or failing to provide a reinforcing consequence is referred to as

Accepted Answer

Extinction is withdrawing or failing to provide a reinforcing consequence. When this occurs, motivation is reduced and the behavior is extinguished, or eliminated. Ways that managers may unintentionally extinguish desired behaviors include not giving a compliment for a job well done, forgetting to say thanks for a favor, and setting impossible performance goals so a person never experiences success.

Quiz 13: Motivating for Performance