Work Psychology
Lecture 1
Scientist-Practitioner Model
Acting as scientists when they conduct research
and implementing these into the actual
organizations as practitioners.
→ Evidence based management
Lecture 2
Individual differences based on
-intelligence/cognitive ability
-personality
Intelligence
General mental capability, involving abilities to:
1. reason,
2. plan,
3. solve problems,
4. think abstractly,
5. comprehend complex ideas,
6. learn quickly and learn from experience.
Does cognitive ability matter?
○ Meta-analysis (1984) – Correlation between general cognitive ability and
performance of 0.50 for complex jobs and 0.23 for low-complexity jobs
○ Meta analysis Europe (2003) – Correlations between between general
cognitive ability and job performance and training success of 0.54
◉ Helps acquire job knowledge better and faster
Personality
Myers Briggs test
,• Based on a preference on each of
the four dimensions we get 16
possible personality types
• Extrovert (E) vs Introvert (I)
• Sensing (S) vs Intuitive (N)
• Thinking (T) vs Feeling (F)
• Judging (J) vs Perceiving (P)
Facebook predictor for personality
Does personality matter?
Predicts job performance – depending on job requirements
Certain traits are related to job satisfaction an commitment
Occupational interests
Team processes
Leadership behavior
,Individual differences dynamics
Some issues with the literature on personality and work outcomes:
relations of personality traits with work outcomes are considered static
personality is always considered a predictor
Recent evidence suggests personality
may affect work behaviour and also
be affected by work
Trait Activation Theory (TAT) proposes
behaviour results from an interaction
between person and situation
Influences of personality on job performance change over time
performance demands change
Ways work might affect personality development
-normative change=affects all people at the same time /for example college
-deepening and strengthening of traits
-unique experiences
Dynamic developmental model (Woods et al.)
-Personality traits in constant interaction with work-related
activities and environments
-Traits influence career choices
-As demands change, different traits influence performance
and behavior, and work becomes a core part of who we are
Note on cognitive ability
-Performance at work increases linearly in early stages of the job
then plateaus following ‘learning curve’
-Cognitive ability critical in learning phase
-Over time motivational aspects become more important
Conclusion
, Cognitive ability and personality matter
They influence a range of work related outcomes - performance,
commitment, satisfaction, OCB, CWB…
The effect of cognitive ability and personality on work performance is
not stable
Heavily dependand on the context of the job/organisation and timing
Work can also influence our ability and personality
Book material lecture 1 +2
Chapter 1
-industrial work psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on improving work and
employee performance
-work psychologist are scientists practitioners who conduct research and practice with the actual
organizations
Fields
-personnel psychology =concentrates on evaluation and selection of employees
-organizational psychology investigates the behavior of people in a specific organization
-human factors/ergonomics -field that focuses on the interaction between humans and machines
Chapter 3 woods
-Trait activation theory -states that people's behavior is influenced by the contact and social cues
3 ways work can affect our personality through our life
1. Normative changes -same for everybody , related to just aging
2. Strengthening of existing traits
3. Through unique experiences
-positive affectivity predicts better job performance
Core self evaluation
1.self esteem
2.Self efficacy
3.locus of control -extend to which people feel in control
4.neuroticism
Lecture 1
Scientist-Practitioner Model
Acting as scientists when they conduct research
and implementing these into the actual
organizations as practitioners.
→ Evidence based management
Lecture 2
Individual differences based on
-intelligence/cognitive ability
-personality
Intelligence
General mental capability, involving abilities to:
1. reason,
2. plan,
3. solve problems,
4. think abstractly,
5. comprehend complex ideas,
6. learn quickly and learn from experience.
Does cognitive ability matter?
○ Meta-analysis (1984) – Correlation between general cognitive ability and
performance of 0.50 for complex jobs and 0.23 for low-complexity jobs
○ Meta analysis Europe (2003) – Correlations between between general
cognitive ability and job performance and training success of 0.54
◉ Helps acquire job knowledge better and faster
Personality
Myers Briggs test
,• Based on a preference on each of
the four dimensions we get 16
possible personality types
• Extrovert (E) vs Introvert (I)
• Sensing (S) vs Intuitive (N)
• Thinking (T) vs Feeling (F)
• Judging (J) vs Perceiving (P)
Facebook predictor for personality
Does personality matter?
Predicts job performance – depending on job requirements
Certain traits are related to job satisfaction an commitment
Occupational interests
Team processes
Leadership behavior
,Individual differences dynamics
Some issues with the literature on personality and work outcomes:
relations of personality traits with work outcomes are considered static
personality is always considered a predictor
Recent evidence suggests personality
may affect work behaviour and also
be affected by work
Trait Activation Theory (TAT) proposes
behaviour results from an interaction
between person and situation
Influences of personality on job performance change over time
performance demands change
Ways work might affect personality development
-normative change=affects all people at the same time /for example college
-deepening and strengthening of traits
-unique experiences
Dynamic developmental model (Woods et al.)
-Personality traits in constant interaction with work-related
activities and environments
-Traits influence career choices
-As demands change, different traits influence performance
and behavior, and work becomes a core part of who we are
Note on cognitive ability
-Performance at work increases linearly in early stages of the job
then plateaus following ‘learning curve’
-Cognitive ability critical in learning phase
-Over time motivational aspects become more important
Conclusion
, Cognitive ability and personality matter
They influence a range of work related outcomes - performance,
commitment, satisfaction, OCB, CWB…
The effect of cognitive ability and personality on work performance is
not stable
Heavily dependand on the context of the job/organisation and timing
Work can also influence our ability and personality
Book material lecture 1 +2
Chapter 1
-industrial work psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on improving work and
employee performance
-work psychologist are scientists practitioners who conduct research and practice with the actual
organizations
Fields
-personnel psychology =concentrates on evaluation and selection of employees
-organizational psychology investigates the behavior of people in a specific organization
-human factors/ergonomics -field that focuses on the interaction between humans and machines
Chapter 3 woods
-Trait activation theory -states that people's behavior is influenced by the contact and social cues
3 ways work can affect our personality through our life
1. Normative changes -same for everybody , related to just aging
2. Strengthening of existing traits
3. Through unique experiences
-positive affectivity predicts better job performance
Core self evaluation
1.self esteem
2.Self efficacy
3.locus of control -extend to which people feel in control
4.neuroticism
