An Analysis of the Effects of Feedback and Reinforcement on Machine-Paced Production

Most of the behavior management literature has focused on problems other than those involved in machine-paced production. The r e ported research employed performance feedback and social approval to improve worker productivity associated with a machine-paced task. Further analyses indicated that the increased productivity was a result of increases in the time that operators had the machinery running rather than increases in machine operation rates. It is suggested that productivity rates in machine paced operations, which are t y p i d y considered dependent on the machinery, can frequently be improved by identifying the behavioral components within those processes and controlling them directly with behavior management methods. Classes of behaviors which are often associated with machine-paced production and which might he profitably improved with behavior management methods are discussed.