INTRODUCTION TO I/O PSYCHOLOGY

SOCIETY FOR INDUSTRIAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

The professional organization that represents I/O psychologists in the United States
14th division of the American Psychological Association
Approximately 4% of all psychologists work in the I/O area.
INDUSTRIAL/ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

An area of scientific study and professional practice that addresses psychological

concepts and principles in the work world.

I/O Psychology has other names in different countries:

United Kingdom Occupational Psychology
European Countries Work and Organizational Psychology
South Africa Industrial Psychology
INDUSTRIAL/ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

Two sides of I/O psychology:

1. Science scientific inquiry concerned with the advancing knowledge about people at work
2. Practice application of knowledge to solve real problems; uses research findings to hire
better employees, reduce absenteeism, improve communication, increase job satisfaction,
and solve countless other problems.
INDUSTRIAL/ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

Scientist-practitioner model
A model or framework for education in an academic discipline based on understanding the
scientific principles and findings evidenced in the discipline and how they provide the basis for
the professional practice.
FIELDS OF I/O PSYCHOLOGY

Selection and Placement

Concerned with developing assessment methods for selection, placement and promotion
of employees.
Involved in studying jobs and determining to what degree tests can predict performance
in those jobs.
Concerned with the placement of employees and identifying those jobs that are most
compatible with an individuals skills and interests.
FIELDS OF I/O PSYCHOLOGY

Training and Development

Identify employee skills that needs to be enhanced to improve job performance.
Areas of Training:
technical skills enhancement
managerial development programs
training of all employees to work together effectively
FIELDS OF I/O PSYCHOLOGY

Performance Appraisal
This is the process of identifying criteria or standards for determining how well
employees are performing their jobs.
Involves measuring the performance of work teams, units within the organization, or the
organization itself.
FIELDS OF I/O PSYCHOLOGY

Organizational Development
The process of analyzing the structure of an organization to maximize the satisfaction and
effectiveness of individuals, work groups, and customers.
FIELDS OF I/O PSYCHOLOGY

Quality of Worklife
Concerned with the factors that contribute to a healthy and productive workforce.
Involves redesigning jobs to make them more meaningful and satisfying to the people who
perform them.
FIELDS OF I/O PSYCHOLOGY

Ergonomics
It is concerned with designing tools, equipment, and machines that are compatible with
human skills.
PRINCIPAL WORK SETTINGS OF I/O PSYCHOLOGISTS

WORK SETTINGS

Consulting firms
Universities
35%
39%

Government
Industry
6%
20%
THE HISTORY OF I/O PSYCHOLOGY
THE EARLY YEARS

Walter Dill Scott

a psychologists, was persuaded to give a talk to some Chicago business leaders on the
need for applying psychology to advertising.
The Theory of Advertising (1903), dealt with suggestions and arguments as means of
influencing people.
The Psychology of Advertising (1908), was aimed at improving human efficiency with such
tactics as imitation, competition, loyalty, and concentration.
Influencing Men in Business and Increasing Human Efficiency in Business (1911)
During WW1, Scott was instrumental in the application of personnel procedures in the
army.
THE HISTORY OF I/O PSYCHOLOGY
THE EARLY YEARS

Frederick W. Taylor
The Principles of Scientific Management (1911)
According to Van De Water (1997) reported these principles as:
1. Science over rule of thumb
2. Scientific selection and training
3. Cooperation over individualism
4. Equal division of work best suited to management and employees
THE HISTORY OF I/O PSYCHOLOGY
THE EARLY YEARS

Lillian Moller Gilbreth

Pioneered industrial management techniques.
Concerned with the human aspects of time management.
She was among the first to recognize the effect of stress and fatigue on workers.
THE HISTORY OF I/O PSYCHOLOGY
THE EARLY YEARS

Hugo Munsterberg
Interested in applying traditional psychological methods to practical industrial problems.
Psychology and Industrial Efficiency (1913) was divided into three parts: selecting workers,
designing work situations, and using psychology in sales.
Most renowned studies involved the determining what makes a safe trolley car operator.
Considered as the founder of industrial psychology by most writers.
THE HISTORY OF I/O PSYCHOLOGY
WORLD WAR 1

Robert Yerkes
President of the American Psychological Association (1917)
Developed the Army Alpha and Army Beta Tests along with other psychologist.
Army Alpha Test an intelligence test used for the selection and placement of military
personnel.
Army Beta Test a nonverbal intelligence test to assess illiterate military recruits.
THE HISTORY OF I/O PSYCHOLOGY
WORLD WAR I

1917 - the oldest and most representative journal in the field of I/O psychology the
Journal of Applied Psychology began publication.

1924 a series of research studies which refocused the interest of I/O psychologists
on how work behavior manifests itself in an organizational context Hawthorne
Studies.
THE HISTORY OF I/O PSYCHOLOGY
WORLD WAR II

Walter Bingham
Chair of the advisory committee on classification of military personnel (1941).
Developed a test along with the committee members that could sort new recruits into
five categories based on their ability to learn the duties and responsibilities of a soldier
Army General Classification Test.