Applying Psychology to the Workplace

What is the Occupational Information Network?

Comprehensive detailed, and flexible set of job descriptors based on extensive research program

Why is work/workplace important in the lives of many people?

Provides means to satisfy basic needs and reach desired standard of living + provides social interactions

What is the goal of a job analysis?

Identify the critical tasks/requirements of a job

What do job analyses help with within an organizational framework?

Performance appraisals, employee training, raises, promotions and other organizational decisions

What does recruitment mean?

Process used by organizations to identify potential employees for a job

How does recruitment relate to social networking sites?

Helps employers find, attract, screen and communicate with potential employees

How are tests evaluated based on their reliability?

Consistency of measurement. It ranges from 0 to 1, with higher scores representing greater reliability

How are tests evaluated based on their validity?

How accurately a test measures what it is intended to measure. Values range from 0 to 1, with higher scores indicating higher validity

What are the two forms of sexual harassment and how do they impact employees?

Quid Pro Quo: Someone in power offers job benefits in exchange for sexual favors or threatens negative consequences for refusing

Hostile Work Environment: Unwanted sexual behavior or comment create an intimidating, offense or uncomfortable workplace

What are some of the best predictors of employee performance?

Structured interviews, work samples, and cognitive ability

What are some of the worst predictors of employee performance?

Handwriting analysis and projective personality tests

What is meant by bystander harassment?

Knowing about, hearing about, or witnessing coworkers experiencing harassment, even if it isn’t happening to you

What is meant by racial/ethnic harassment?

One’s ethnicity has caused conflict at work

What 2 factors are considered by organizations when looking for a good match between employees and the organization?

Can-do: The employees ability

Will-do: The employees motivation

What are groups?

Collection of people with their own individual goals, accountability and success or failure. They work separate but related interests bring them together

What are teams?

Collection of interdependent people who are joined together for a shared goal. There is individual and mutual accountability, collective success/failure.

How do groups and team differ?

Groups work independently toward a common goal while teams; work together, share responsibilities and are accountable for the outcome

What is the strongest positive correlate of job satisfaction?

Commitment (.70 correlation)

What is the difference between job and work withdrawal

Job: Intent to leave and the thoughts/likelihood of quitting/retiring

Work: Being late/absent, letting others do work for you, poor work or ignoring assigned tasks

What are the types of teams discussed in class?

Problem-Resolution Teams, creative teams, tactical teams, Ad Hoc Teams

What are the dominant features of the types of teams?

Problem-Resolution Teams: Trust

Creative Teams: Autonomy

Tactical Teams: Clarity

What are the main focuses on different types of teams?

Problem-Resolution Teams: Issues

Creative Teams: Explores alternatives and possibilities

Tactical Teams: Directive, highly focused tasks, role clarity, well-defined operational standards + accuracy

What are the 5 main dimensions of organizational citizenship behavior?

1. 1. Altruism

2. 2. Conscientiousness

3. 3. Courtesy

4. 4. Sportsmanship

5. 5. Civic Virtue

Altruism

Helping coworkers with work-related problems or tasks without expecting anything in return

Conscientiousness

Going beyond the minimum requirements of the job by demonstrating responsibility, reliability and dedication

Sportsmanship

Maintaining a positive attitude, even when things do not go as expected

Courtesy

Taking steps to prevent problem and consider how decisions affect others

Civic Virtue

Demonstrating responsibility and involvement in the organization’s overall well-being

Why are performance reviews important for organizations?

Helps identify employees who needs improvement, manage raises/promotions, deal with employees who may need terminated and assist in workforce planning

What are the different types of organizational justice?

Interpersonal, Informational, Distributive and Procedural

Interpersonal Justice

Showing individuals respect and dignity

Informational Justice

Providing knowledge about procedures that demonstrate regard for people’s concerns + gives adequate explanation for procedures

What organizational variables is justice related to?

Job satisfaction, trust, withdrawal, performance, negative employee reactions, organizational commitment

What are the three different types of organizational commitment?

Affective: employee’s emotional attachment making them want to stay

Normative: employee’s commitment based on feelings of obligation

Continuance: employee’s commitment based on high cost of losing organizational membership

Why is Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act important for organizations?

Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex, age, disability and national origin = protection covers full spectrum employment decisions including; recruitment, selections, terminations, etc

What is Bona Fide Occupational Qualification?

Only members of a particular class can perform the job

How is Bona Fide Occupational Qualification related to Title VII and organizational discrimination?

Race cannot be a BFOQ, religion has been, gender seldom can be but not often, customer preference doesn’t matter