The Impact of Behavior Modeling Training on Self-Reports of White Supervisors in Two South African Mines

Abstract

The present study assessed whether behavior modeling training would improve the self-reports of white, first-line supervisors in relation to their black subordinates in two South African mines. Self-reports of behavior were elicited from 50 supervisors equally split into experimental and control groups. Controlling for retraining differences, the 25 supervisors trained in behavior modeling reported significantly greater improvements in supportive behaviors than the control group of 25 untrained supervisors, selected from the same departments at the two mines. Conversely, controlling for retraining scores, no differences were found for changes in abusive supervisory behavior The importance of adopting a broad, multimodal attitudinal and behavioral intervention approach to dealing with improving race relations is discussed.

A Meta-Analytic Review of Behavior Modeling Training.

“…Further studies were identified from references cited in studies found through this search process. In order to obtain unpublished BMT evaluations, known BMT researchers were contacted, as were the American In total, 171 BMT studies were located, of which 46 were later excluded: 26 because they lacked sufficient information for effect size calculations (e.g., Goldstein & Sorcher, 1974); 6 because they included neither pretests nor a relevant comparison group (e.g., Johnson & Marakas, 2000); 6 because training effects were measured exclusively through trainees' own self-ratings (e.g., Nunns & Bluen, 1992); 4 because, although they were described by their authors as based on behavior modeling, one or more of the four key components of behavior modeling was not included (e.g., Royster, 1981); 3 because they were implemented with children (e.g., Renaud & Stolovitch, 1988); and 1 because a pure, BMT-only condition could not be isolated (Davis & Mount, 1984).…”

What Determines Whether Observers Recognize Targeted Behaviors in Modeling Displays?

“…However, observational learning is now being applied in relatively complex social situations in which training cues (and consequences) exist in a complicated stimulus array. For example, observational learning has been used to train managerial and communication skills to managers (e.g., Nunns & Bluen, 1992), pilots (Smith-Jentsch, Jentsch, Payne, & Salas, 1996), and others (Smith-Jentsch, Salas, & Baker, 1996). In these areas the salience of targeted behaviors might be a critical factor in training effectiveness (Mann & Decker, 1984;Thelen & Rennie, 1972).…”