A Preliminary Laboratory Evaluation: Effects of Consequence Quality and Ratio-Schedule Arrangements on Staff Performance. Issue 1 (2nd April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tudor, Ashley; Leon, Yanerys; Argueta, Tracy; Brewer, Adam; Wine, Byron
• Is Part Of: Journal of organizational behavior management. Volume 40:Issue 1/2(2020)
• Page Start: 108
• Page End: 118
• Publication Date: 2020-04-02
• Subjects: Human operant -- pay for performance -- ratio schedule -- staff; Organizational behavior -- Management -- Periodicals; 302.3505
• DOI: 10.1080/01608061.2020.1715318
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-8061

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Supplementary, contingent pay arrangements can result in improved employee productivity and increased job satisfaction. We examined the effects of four stimulus delivery arrangements on performance in a computer-based task in a simulated work context. Three participants entered hypothetical client data onto a Microsoft Excel® invoice and earned gift-cards for task completion according to the following conditions: (a) fixed-ratio/high-preference stimuli (FR/HiP), (b) variable-ratio/high-preference stimuli (VR/HiP), (c) fixed-ratio/varied stimuli (FR/Var), and (d) variable-ratio/varied stimuli (VR/Var). For two of three participants varied reinforcers produced similar levels of responding to high-preference stimuli regardless of schedule type, whereas varied reinforcers did not support responding for the third participant. All participants preferred working under conditions of access to high-preference reinforcers. Results are discussed in light of creating efficient performance improvement plans in organizational settings.