CHAP1- INTRODUCTION TO I/O PSY

Question 1

Psychology
Is the science of the —–

Answer 1

human behavior, cognitions, emotions, and motivation.

Question 2

I/O psychology is the science of

Answer 2

human behavior, cognitions, emotions, and motivation as it relates to work

Question 3

Dual focus =

Answer 3

Organization & Employee
Efficiency/productivity of organizations
Health/well-being of employee

Question 4

Dual nature =

Answer 4

Scientist & Practitioner
Application of the science of psychology and its principles to the workplace (organization & Employees)

Question 5

What is I/O Psychology? In summary: I/O psychology is:

Answer 5

The branch of psychology that applies the principles of psychology to the workplace

Question 6

The Purpose of I/O Psychology:

Answer 6

“to enhance the dignity and performance of human beings, and the organizations they work in, by advancing the science and knowledge of human behavior”

Question 7

Work and Sleep are…

Answer 7

Major Life Activities
Workers spend the majority of their time doing one or the other

Question 8

Millions of people in UAE Work

Answer 8

I/O psychology can impact all of these individuals, PLUS those around them!

Question 9

Organizational Effectiveness:

Answer 9

I/O psychologists can help organizations reduce costs, improve performance/productivity, etc.

Question 10

Approx. …% of Psychologists work within the I/O field

Answer 10

4

Question 11

I/O Related Organizations
SIOP – “The Governing I/O Organization”

Answer 11

Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Division 14 of APA (American Psychological Association)
SHRM
Society for Human Resources

Question 12

Are I/O’s licensed like clinical psychologists?

Answer 12

Little reason to get licensed and has no effect on typical I/O jobs

Question 13

Key Differences between I/O vs. Business Programs

Answer 13

I/O psychologists rely on application of psychological principles.
I/O psychologists focus on the factors in businesses that affect people.
I/O psychologists rely heavily on research, quantitative methods, and testing techniques for guiding decisions.

Question 14

Personnel Psychology (The “I” in I/O Psychology)

Answer 14

Defining and analyzing jobs
Recruiting and selecting employees for jobs
Training employees
Assessing performance
Promoting and retaining employees
Test development and Validation
Legal Issues

Question 15

Organizational Psychology (The “O” in I/O)

Answer 15

Determining how people feel about work
Determining why people act as they do at work
Examining the effects work has on people
Examining the effects people have on one another
How organizations are structured and function
How work is designed
Examining work relevant health, safety, and well-being issues

Question 16

EmploymentIO psych

Answer 16

Little Or (Self-Employment)
4 Main Work Settings:
Universities
Consulting Firms
Industry/Corporations
Government Agencies

Question 17

I/O psychologists often work/consult with

Answer 17

MBAs
CEOs,
VPs,
HR staff
Healthcare/Health Science Staff (in Occupational Health Specialty)

Question 18

Early 1900s

Answer 18

Merging of two forces: Applying psychology & industrial engineers improving efficiency

Question 19

Four Major Figures

Answer 19

Walter Dill Scott
Frederick Taylor
Lillian (and Frank) Gilbreth
Hugo Munsterberg

Question 20

Walter Dill Scott

Answer 20

“Psychology of Advertising” 1908
“Increasing Human Efficiency”
Contributed WWI to application to Army

Question 21

Frederick Taylor

Answer 21

Engineer focused on redesigning work
“Principles of Scientific Management” 1911

Question 22

Frederick Taylor’s 4 principles of Scientific Management” 1911

Answer 22

Four Principles
Science over rule of thumb
Scientific selection and training
Cooperation over individualism
Equal division of work best suited to management and employees

Question 23

Lillian (and Frank) Gilbreth

Answer 23

Lillian - Focused on Stress and fatigue on workers
Frank - Focused on technical aspects of worker efficiency
- “Cheaper by the Dozen” –Things are handled more efficiently in groups rather than individually.

Question 24

Hugo Munsterberg

Answer 24

Considered the “Father of Industrial Psychology”
“Psychology and Industrial Efficiency” 1913

Question 25

Trolley Car Simulator Creation

Answer 25

Systematically studied all aspects of job through observations
Analyzed behaviors and asked questions
Basically, he pioneered Job Analysis

Question 26

Army Alpha Project (1914 – 1918) –

Answer 26

army hires psychologists including Robert Yerkes
Screen recruits for intelligence
Army Beta – created for those that were illiterate (30%). non-verbal intelligence test

Question 27

Journal of Applied Psychology (1917) –

Answer 27

first I/O journal
Documented Army Alpha & Beta projects
Still most prestigious journal in the field

Question 28

Between the Wars (1919-1940) James Cattell (1921)

Answer 28

forms Psychological Corporation to provide services to industry

Question 29

Between the Wars (1919-1940) Hawthorne Studies (1924)

Answer 29

Research by Harvard & MIT
Led by Elton Mayo
Conducted at Hawthorne Plant of Western Electric Co.
Looking for cost effective ways to reduce expenses
adjusted lighting levels

Question 30

Hawthorne Studies (1924)

Answer 30

Hawthorne Effect- behavior changes
Novelty of intervention influences behavior (i.e., I observe you working, and you perform better because of my presence as an observer)

Question 31

World War II (1941-1946)

Answer 31

Army hires I/O psychologists to select & classify recruits

Question 32

Army General Classification Test (AGCT)

Answer 32

Group testing, sorted applicants into 5 categories based on if they could learn duties, etc

Question 33

Post World War II

Answer 33

Toward Specialization (1946-1963)
Evolved into legitimate area of practice, schools, terminology, etc

Question 34

Information Age (1994–Present)

Answer 34

Higher demands for organizations and employees
More complex, computer generated statistical analyses are becoming common (MANOVA, Multilevel Modeling, Structural Equation Modeling, Item Response Theory, etc.)
Application of cognitive psychology to I/O, specifically performance appraisal
Increased focus on selection methods (selecting the “right person” for the job is becoming more important)