The 5 W’s of Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology

1. The 5 W’s of Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology Dr. Russ JohnsonUniversity of South Florida

2. What is I/O psychology? • Textbook definition: • “Application of psychological principles and theories to the workplace” • What I tell my folks: • “Study of how people get along at work and are able to perform effectively”

3. What is I/O psychology? • Subareas within I/O • Industrial or personnel psychology • HR stuff: recruitment, job analysis, selection, training, performance appraisal, compensation, employment law (Title VII of CRA) • KSAs job performance • Organizational psychology • Micro: motivation, leadership, teams, worker attitudes, safety & well-being, work-family • Macro: org theory, culture, org development & change

4. What is I/O psychology? • Subareas within I/O • Human factors & ergonomics • Modifying equipment & env to fit workers

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6. What is I/O psychology? • Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) • www.siop.org • Division 14 of the American Psychological Association (APA) • Good overviews… • Textbooks by the two Pauls

7. Who are I/O psychologists? • Two general groups • Academics • Professors in research- and teaching- oriented universities and colleges • Example departments: psychology, management, industrial relations, quantitative sciences, occupational health & safety • Major activities • Teaching courses, conducting research, writing and presenting research papers, attending conferences, mentoring students, performing university and professional service

8. Who are I/O psychologists? • Two general groups • Practitioners • HR and organizational specialists in consulting, private, and public organizations • Major activities • Job analysis, diagnosis, surveying employees, designing and administering selection & performance appraisal systems, training, developing psychological tests, implementing and evaluating OD & change, data analysis • “Other” category • Research institutes, think tanks (e.g., RAND)

9. Who are I/O psychologists?

10. Who are I/O psychologists? • Scientists AND practitioners • Understanding and evaluating research necessary for good practice… • …and awareness of practical problems necessary for good research • I/Oers are thieves! • We “borrow” from social, cognitive, developmental, clinical, and other areas of psychology

11. Where do you go to become an I/O psychologist? • Grad school!!! • Top PhD programs • Minnesota, Michigan State, Illinois (UIUC), Akron, Bowling Green, Penn State, George Mason, South Florida, Maryland • Good PhD programs (just a sampling!) • Central Florida, Florida Tech, Georgia Tech, Colorado State, Portland State, San Diego State • Want to be a Canuck? Waterloo, Western Ontario, Calgary, Guelph, St. Mary’s

12. Where do you go to become an I/O psychologist? • Typical grad school timeline • Lots of course work in years 1 and 2 • MA thesis completed in year 2 or 3 • Varies in formality by program • Internship? • Comprehensive exams in year 3 • Dissertation in years 4 and 5 • Proposal and defense meetings

13. Where do you go to become an I/O psychologist? • Other considerations… • PhD or MA program? • Psychology or business? • Application req’ts may vary (GRE vs. GMAT) • Coursework varies (social vs. strategy) • More stats and RM courses in psych • PhD in business is 100% research-focused • Thesis not typical in business • Funding better in business • Short-term vs. long-term considerations

14. When should you begin thinking about grad school in I/O psychology? • The sooner the better! • Stuff to think about early on • Relevant coursework • I/O (duh!), stats, research methods, tests & measures, social, personality, motivation, cognitive, OB/HR • Research experience • Honor’s thesis, RA • Experience is more important than topic • Interact with faculty, grad students • Be active (not passive) • Attend brownbags • Involvement in professional societies (Psi Chi, SIOP)

15. When should you begin thinking about grad school in I/O psychology? • Speaking of research assistance… • Erin Eatough (eeatough@mail.usf.edu) is hiring 3 RAs for Spring semester • OHP study requiring help with… • Participant recruitment • Data collection • Data entry & management • Motivated RAs will have opportunities to contribute to presentation and publication of research

16. When should you begin thinking about grad school in I/O psychology? • Senior year • GRE • Positive correlation between study time and score • Allow time for make-up, if necessary • Subject GRE? • Application materials (due dates begin in Dec) • Recommendation letters • People who know you well and can comment on your scholarly potential • Personal statement • Get examples & seek feedback • Tailor them to programs

17. Why should you consider getting a degree in I/O psychology? • Applied field • There will always be practical problems to solve! • Company restructuring & downsizing • Workplace diversity • Variety of job possibilities • Academic positions in multiple departments • Internal and external consulting • Private and public organizations • Any combination of the above

18. Why should you consider getting a degree in I/O psychology? • Variety of research topics • Attitudes, emotions, behavior (social) • Learning, memory, heuristics (cog) • Employee aging, retirement (develop) • Employee counseling, coaching (clinical) • Data analysis, test development (quant) • Field is growing • More and more I/O and mgmt dept’s • Out with the old, in with the new…

19. Thank you! • Any more questions?