Date of Award
12-1981
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. Dale Brethower
Second Advisor
Dr. Richard Malott
Third Advisor
Dr. Norman Peterson
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
Behavior modification techniques were used to improve the performance of individual employees in a restaurant setting. Desired performance was defined in operational terms. Contingent upon observations of desired behavior, procedures involving praise, performance charts, and bonuses were implemented according to an ABCB design. After applying both praise and performance charts, bonuses were added so that all three techniques were in operation. Then, bonuses were discontinued. Results indicated that while employee performance (quality of performance and time spent on the job) improved when praise and performance charts were applied, the addition of a bonus led to even further improvement. Hence, bonuses can be an effective technique of economic reinforcement for use by managers interested in improving employee performance, and possibly more so than the use of feedback in conjunction with social reinforcement.
Recommended Citation
Kershek, Patricia A., "Improving On-the-Job Performance of Restaurant Employees through Behavior Modification Techniques" (1981). Masters Theses. 1832.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/1832