Chapter 13: Industrial Psychology

What is psychology?

The study of behavior and mental processes.

What is Industrial/Organizational Psychology?

A branch of psychology concerned with behavior in work settings and applying psychological principles to improve work behavior.

What is the dual focus of I/O psychologists?

The dual focus involves (1) enhancing the efficiency, productivity, and overall effectiveness of organizations, and (2) promoting the health, well-being, and job satisfaction of employees within those organizations.

What does it mean that I/O psychologists are "scientist-practitioners"?

They both conduct research and apply findings in real-world workplaces.

What is Scientific Management and who developed it?

Frank Taylor’s method of determining the most efficient way to perform work tasks using time and motion studies.

What did Scientific Management influence?

Assembly lines and military recruitment processes.

What is ergonomics (human factors)?

The intersection of engineering and psychology focusing on safe and efficient human-machine interactions.

What were the Hawthorne Studies (1927–1932)?

Research studying how work conditions affect productivity

What is the Hawthorne Effect?

When workers increase performance because they feel observed or important.

What did the Hawthorne Studies lead to?

The Human Relations Approach emphasizing social factors, morale, and group norms.

What is job analysis?

A systematic process for generating a detailed job description.

What are the two types of job descriptions?

Job-oriented (tasks) and person-oriented (KSAOs: Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Other characteristics).

What is job evaluation?

Determining the value of a job based on compensable factors (education, responsibility, etc.).

What are common selection tools?

Tests, integrity tests, biographical inventories, and interviews

What is the interviewer illusion?

The belief that interviewers can accurately predict job performance from interviews alone.

What is a structured interview?

An interview where all candidates are asked the same standardized questions.

What is orientation

Introducing employees to the organization and coworkers.

What is overlearning?

Training employees until tasks become automatic.

What is mentoring?

Guidance from a more experienced worker; includes natural mentoring relationships.

What is performance appraisal?

Evaluating how well employees perform their job.

Name three common rating errors in performance appraisal.

Leniency errors, severity errors, central tendency errors.

What is the halo effect?

When one positive trait influences all performance ratings.

What is 360-degree feedback?

Performance evaluation from supervisors, peers, subordinates, and self.

What factors influence job satisfaction?

Fair compensation, personality, and cultural influences.

Q: What is job withdrawal?

Behaviors indicating disengagement from work, such as lateness or quitting.

Q: What is organizational spontaneity?

Voluntary helpful behaviors that benefit the workplace.

What is affective commitment?

Emotional attachment to the organization.

What is continuance commitment?

Staying because of the perceived costs of leaving.

What is normative commitment?

Staying because of a sense of obligation.

Q: Difference between a job, a career, and a calling?

• Job: Little training, focus on earning money

• Career: Advancement opportunities

• Calling: Work has meaning beyond economics

What is job crafting?

Changes individuals make in their tasks to make work more meaningful

What is transformational leadership?

Leadership emphasizing vision, employee inspiration, intellectual stimulation, and concern for well-being.

What are the four key elements of transformational leadership?

Idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration.

What traits predict leadership?

High extraversion, high conscientiousness, low neuroticism.

What is LIFT?

Leaders’ beliefs about what followers should be like.

What are follower prototypes in LIFT?

Industry, enthusiasm, and good citizenship.

Q: What are follower antiprototypes in LIFT?

Insubordination, incompetence, conformity.