CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Learning Objectives
After covering this material, your students should be able to:
1. Define I/0 psychology and know the difference between industrial and organizational
psychology.
2. Describe the major activities of I/O psychologists in research and practice settings.
3. Explain why research is important and how it relates to practice.
4. Explain how the field began and cite events that shaped its development.
5. Identify individuals who affected the development of the field.
6. Explain the importance of the Hawthorne studies.
7. Describe the role of I/O psychology worldwide.
8. Explain how an I/0 psychologist is trained.
9. Describe the ethical principles guiding I/O psychologists.
TESTBANK:
,Multiple Choice Questions
1. Mary is experiencing feelings of insecurity and depression. She is having difficulty
finding the motivation to complete even the simplest tasks at work and when at home she
just sits and stares at her TV. Her employer has suggested she seek the help of a
professional. What type of psychologist is she MOST likely to go to for help?
. A clinical psychologist
a. An experimental psychologist
b. A forensic psychologist
d. An industrial/organizational psychologist
Answer: a Learning Objective: 1 Page: 5
2. Industrial/Organizational Psychology is LEAST concerned with:
a. the treatment of emotional or personal problems in the workplace.
b. the assessment of job performance.
c. designing employee selection methods.
d. the development of organizational safety programs.
Answer: a Learning Objective: 1 Page: 5
3. Miranda is interested in majoring is psychology and wants to know of the difference
between industrial and organizational psychology. She knows that you are taking a
psychology course and asks you to explain to her the major areas of interest of
organizational psychology. You would be most likely to tell her that organizational
psychology is concerned with
a. organizational efficiency.
b. the development and application of scientific principles to the workplace for the benefit
of management.
c. efficient job design, performance appraisal, and employee selection.
d. understanding behavior and enhancing the well being of employees in the workplace.
Answer: d Learning Objective: 1 Page: 5
,4. Erin is applying for a job at a major fast food chain. What type of psychologist is most
likely to have developed the employee selection procedures, training sessions and
performance appraisal system that she will be subjected to?
a. An organizational psychologist
b. An industrial psychologist
c. An applied psychologist
d. A clinical psychologist
Answer: b Learning Objective: 1 Page: 5
5. The division of I/O psychology that emphasizes a management perspective of
organizational efficiency through the appropriate use of human resources is
a. Industrial psychology.
b. Employee psychology.
c. Human relations psychology.
d. Organizational psychology.
Answer: a Learning Objective: 1 Page: 5
6. An I/O psychologist has been asked by a major electronics firm to examine the happiness
and well being of employees. She then examines employee attitudes, behavior, and job
stress as well as supervisory practices. She is acting as a(n)
a. Clinical psychologist.
b. Experimental psychologist.
c. Organizational psychologist.
d. Industrial psychologist.
Answer: c Learning Objective: 1 Page: 5
7. When Compaq Computer Corporation experienced a downturn in demand for its
products, it was forced to reorganize and layoff employees. To assist them in this process
they would be most likely to turn to a(n):
a. Clinical Psychologist.
, b. Relocation Specialist.
c. Industrial Psychologist.
d. Business Psychologist .
Answer: c Learning Objective: 1 Page: 3-5
8. I/O psychology is an “evidence-based” field. This means that:
a. the things practitioners do are based on scientific methods and principles
b. most I/O practitioners work in the judicial system
c. many I/O psychologists investigate criminal activity
d. I/O practitioners use an intuitive approach to solving organizational problems
Answer: a Learning Objective: 2 Page: 4
1. I/O psychology is NOT an applied field like clinical psychology
a. True
b. False
Answer: b Learning Objective: 1 Page: 5
10. The two major divisions of industrial and organizational psychology
a. overlap very little
b. grew out of similar traditions in the history of the field
c. suggest the field is very narrowly-focused
d. cannot be easily separated
Answer: d Learning Objective: 1 Page: 5
11. Becky has finally finished her degree in I/O psychology! What are the three most
common settings in which she would be most likely to work?
a. university, health care, private company
Learning Objectives
After covering this material, your students should be able to:
1. Define I/0 psychology and know the difference between industrial and organizational
psychology.
2. Describe the major activities of I/O psychologists in research and practice settings.
3. Explain why research is important and how it relates to practice.
4. Explain how the field began and cite events that shaped its development.
5. Identify individuals who affected the development of the field.
6. Explain the importance of the Hawthorne studies.
7. Describe the role of I/O psychology worldwide.
8. Explain how an I/0 psychologist is trained.
9. Describe the ethical principles guiding I/O psychologists.
TESTBANK:
,Multiple Choice Questions
1. Mary is experiencing feelings of insecurity and depression. She is having difficulty
finding the motivation to complete even the simplest tasks at work and when at home she
just sits and stares at her TV. Her employer has suggested she seek the help of a
professional. What type of psychologist is she MOST likely to go to for help?
. A clinical psychologist
a. An experimental psychologist
b. A forensic psychologist
d. An industrial/organizational psychologist
Answer: a Learning Objective: 1 Page: 5
2. Industrial/Organizational Psychology is LEAST concerned with:
a. the treatment of emotional or personal problems in the workplace.
b. the assessment of job performance.
c. designing employee selection methods.
d. the development of organizational safety programs.
Answer: a Learning Objective: 1 Page: 5
3. Miranda is interested in majoring is psychology and wants to know of the difference
between industrial and organizational psychology. She knows that you are taking a
psychology course and asks you to explain to her the major areas of interest of
organizational psychology. You would be most likely to tell her that organizational
psychology is concerned with
a. organizational efficiency.
b. the development and application of scientific principles to the workplace for the benefit
of management.
c. efficient job design, performance appraisal, and employee selection.
d. understanding behavior and enhancing the well being of employees in the workplace.
Answer: d Learning Objective: 1 Page: 5
,4. Erin is applying for a job at a major fast food chain. What type of psychologist is most
likely to have developed the employee selection procedures, training sessions and
performance appraisal system that she will be subjected to?
a. An organizational psychologist
b. An industrial psychologist
c. An applied psychologist
d. A clinical psychologist
Answer: b Learning Objective: 1 Page: 5
5. The division of I/O psychology that emphasizes a management perspective of
organizational efficiency through the appropriate use of human resources is
a. Industrial psychology.
b. Employee psychology.
c. Human relations psychology.
d. Organizational psychology.
Answer: a Learning Objective: 1 Page: 5
6. An I/O psychologist has been asked by a major electronics firm to examine the happiness
and well being of employees. She then examines employee attitudes, behavior, and job
stress as well as supervisory practices. She is acting as a(n)
a. Clinical psychologist.
b. Experimental psychologist.
c. Organizational psychologist.
d. Industrial psychologist.
Answer: c Learning Objective: 1 Page: 5
7. When Compaq Computer Corporation experienced a downturn in demand for its
products, it was forced to reorganize and layoff employees. To assist them in this process
they would be most likely to turn to a(n):
a. Clinical Psychologist.
, b. Relocation Specialist.
c. Industrial Psychologist.
d. Business Psychologist .
Answer: c Learning Objective: 1 Page: 3-5
8. I/O psychology is an “evidence-based” field. This means that:
a. the things practitioners do are based on scientific methods and principles
b. most I/O practitioners work in the judicial system
c. many I/O psychologists investigate criminal activity
d. I/O practitioners use an intuitive approach to solving organizational problems
Answer: a Learning Objective: 2 Page: 4
1. I/O psychology is NOT an applied field like clinical psychology
a. True
b. False
Answer: b Learning Objective: 1 Page: 5
10. The two major divisions of industrial and organizational psychology
a. overlap very little
b. grew out of similar traditions in the history of the field
c. suggest the field is very narrowly-focused
d. cannot be easily separated
Answer: d Learning Objective: 1 Page: 5
11. Becky has finally finished her degree in I/O psychology! What are the three most
common settings in which she would be most likely to work?
a. university, health care, private company
