Industrial and Organizational Psychology

I/O Psychology

• A branch of psychology that focuses on the application of psychological principles in the workplace.
• The science of human behaviour in organizations.
• Purpose is to enhance human dignity and performance.
• Goal is to increase productivity and employee well-being.
• Relies on scientific methods and quantitative research.
• I/O psychologists are not clinical psychologists and do not use the clinical model.

I/O Psychology: Science and Practice

• I/O psychology is both a science and a practice.
• As a science, it uses research to advance knowledge of people in work.
• As a practice, it applies knowledge to solve workplace problems.
• Scientist-Practitioner model: uses scientific research to inform practice.

Industrial and Organizational Psychology

• Two main branches: Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

Industrial Psychology

• Focuses on employee recruitment, selection, classification, compensation, training, and performance evaluation.
• Determines the competencies needed for a job.
• Staffs the organization by increasing the competence of employees through training.

Organizational Psychology

• Focuses on leadership, job satisfaction, employee motivation, organizational communication, conflict management, organizational change, and group processes within an organization.
• Often uses surveys to address organizational issues.
• Creates organizational structure and culture, motivates employees, orients employees on how to do their jobs, provides safe working conditions.

Human Factors/Ergonomics

• Workplace design, human-machine interaction, ergonomics, physical fatigue, and stress.

Major Fields of I/O Psychology

• Personnel Psychology
• Organizational Psychology
• Human Factors/Ergonomics

Personnel Psychology

• Focuses on the selection and evaluation of employees.
• Analyzes jobs, recruits applicants, selects employees, determines salary levels, trains employees, and evaluates employee performance.

Organizational Psychology

• Focuses on leadership, job satisfaction, employee motivation, organizational communication, conflict management, organizational change, and group processes within an organization.
• Acts as consultants to solve organization issues.

Brief History of I/O Psychology

• World events influenced I/O psychology.
• World War I and II, The Hawthorne Studies, Civil Rights Legislation, New Technology, and Changing Demographics.