The 5 W’s of The 5 W’s of Industrial/Organizational Industrial/Organizational

(I/O) Psychology(I/O) Psychology

Dr. Russ JohnsonDr. Russ JohnsonUniversity of South FloridaUniversity of South Florida

What is I/O psychology?What is I/O psychology?

Textbook definition:Textbook definition:““Application of psychological principles Application of psychological principles

and theories to the workplace”and theories to the workplace”

What I tell my folks:What I tell my folks:““Study of how people get along at work Study of how people get along at work

and are able to perform effectively”and are able to perform effectively”

What is I/O psychology?What is I/O psychology?

Subareas within I/OSubareas within I/OIndustrial or personnel psychologyIndustrial or personnel psychology

HR stuff: recruitment, job analysis, selection, HR stuff: recruitment, job analysis, selection, training, performance appraisal, training, performance appraisal, compensation, employment law (Title VII of compensation, employment law (Title VII of CRA)CRA)

KSAsKSAs job performance job performanceOrganizational psychologyOrganizational psychology

Micro: motivation, leadership, teams, worker Micro: motivation, leadership, teams, worker attitudes, safety & well-being, work-familyattitudes, safety & well-being, work-family

Macro: org theory, culture, org development Macro: org theory, culture, org development & change& change

What is I/O psychology?What is I/O psychology?

Subareas within I/OSubareas within I/OHuman factors & ergonomicsHuman factors & ergonomics

Modifying equipment & env to fit workersModifying equipment & env to fit workers

www.baddesigns.comwww.baddesigns.com

What is I/O psychology?What is I/O psychology?

Society for Industrial and Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP)Organizational Psychology (SIOP)www.siop.orgwww.siop.org Division 14 of the American Division 14 of the American

Psychological Association (APA)Psychological Association (APA)Good overviews…Good overviews…

Textbooks by the two PaulsTextbooks by the two Pauls

Who are I/O psychologists?Who are I/O psychologists?

Two general groupsTwo general groupsAcademicsAcademics

Professors in research- and teaching- Professors in research- and teaching- oriented universities and colleges oriented universities and colleges

Example departments: psychology, management, Example departments: psychology, management, industrial relations, quantitative sciences, industrial relations, quantitative sciences, occupational health & safetyoccupational health & safety

Major activitiesMajor activitiesTeaching courses, conducting research, writing Teaching courses, conducting research, writing

and presenting research papers, attending and presenting research papers, attending conferences, mentoring students, performing conferences, mentoring students, performing university and professional serviceuniversity and professional service

Who are I/O psychologists?Who are I/O psychologists?

Two general groupsTwo general groupsPractitionersPractitioners

HR and organizational specialists in HR and organizational specialists in consulting, private, and public consulting, private, and public organizationsorganizations

Major activitiesMajor activities Job analysis, diagnosis, surveying employees, Job analysis, diagnosis, surveying employees,

designing and administering selection & designing and administering selection & performance appraisal systems, training, performance appraisal systems, training, developing psychological tests, implementing and developing psychological tests, implementing and evaluating OD & change, data analysisevaluating OD & change, data analysis

““Other” categoryOther” categoryResearch institutes, think tanks (e.g., RAND)Research institutes, think tanks (e.g., RAND)

33%

39%

15%

7%

6%

Consulting

Academic

Private

Public

Other

Who are I/O psychologists?Who are I/O psychologists?

Who are I/O psychologists?Who are I/O psychologists?

Scientists Scientists AND AND practitioners practitioners Understanding and evaluating research Understanding and evaluating research

necessary for good practice…necessary for good practice………and awareness of practical problems and awareness of practical problems

necessary for good researchnecessary for good research I/Oers are thieves!I/Oers are thieves!

We “borrow” from social, cognitive, We “borrow” from social, cognitive, developmental, clinical, and other areas developmental, clinical, and other areas of psychologyof psychology

Where do you go to become an Where do you go to become an I/O I/O

psychologist?psychologist?Grad school!!!Grad school!!!

Top PhD programs Top PhD programs Minnesota, Michigan State, Illinois (UIUC), Minnesota, Michigan State, Illinois (UIUC),

Akron, Bowling Green, Penn State, George Akron, Bowling Green, Penn State, George Mason, South Florida, MarylandMason, South Florida, Maryland

Good PhD programs (just a sampling!)Good PhD programs (just a sampling!)Central Florida, Florida Tech, Georgia Tech, Central Florida, Florida Tech, Georgia Tech,

Colorado State, Portland State, San Diego Colorado State, Portland State, San Diego StateState

Want to be a Canuck? Waterloo, Western Want to be a Canuck? Waterloo, Western Ontario, Calgary, Guelph, St. Mary’sOntario, Calgary, Guelph, St. Mary’s

Where do you go to become an Where do you go to become an I/O I/O

psychologist?psychologist?Typical grad school timelineTypical grad school timeline

Lots of course work in years 1 and 2Lots of course work in years 1 and 2MA thesis completed in year 2 or 3MA thesis completed in year 2 or 3

Varies in formality by programVaries in formality by programInternship?Internship?Comprehensive exams in year 3Comprehensive exams in year 3Dissertation in years 4 and 5Dissertation in years 4 and 5

Proposal and defense meetingsProposal and defense meetings

Where do you go to become an Where do you go to become an I/O I/O

psychologist?psychologist?Other considerations…Other considerations…

PhD or MA program?PhD or MA program?Psychology or business?Psychology or business?

Application req’ts may vary (GRE vs. GMAT)Application req’ts may vary (GRE vs. GMAT)Coursework varies (social vs. strategy)Coursework varies (social vs. strategy)More stats and RM courses in psychMore stats and RM courses in psychPhD in business is 100% research-focusedPhD in business is 100% research-focusedThesis not typical in businessThesis not typical in businessFunding better in businessFunding better in business

Short-term vs. long-term considerationsShort-term vs. long-term considerations

When should you begin thinking When should you begin thinking about grad school in I/O about grad school in I/O

psychology?psychology?The sooner the better!The sooner the better!

Stuff to think about early onStuff to think about early onRelevant courseworkRelevant coursework

I/O (duh!), stats, research methods, tests & I/O (duh!), stats, research methods, tests & measures, social, personality, motivation, measures, social, personality, motivation, cognitive, OB/HRcognitive, OB/HR

Research experienceResearch experienceHonor’s thesis, RAHonor’s thesis, RAExperience is more important than topicExperience is more important than topic

Interact with faculty, grad studentsInteract with faculty, grad studentsBe active (not passive)Be active (not passive)Attend brownbagsAttend brownbags Involvement in professional societies (Psi Chi, SIOP)Involvement in professional societies (Psi Chi, SIOP)

When should you begin thinking When should you begin thinking about grad school in I/O about grad school in I/O

psychology?psychology?Speaking of research assistance…Speaking of research assistance…

Erin Eatough (Erin Eatough (eeatough@mail.usf.edueeatough@mail.usf.edu) is ) is hiring 3 RAs for Spring semesterhiring 3 RAs for Spring semester

OHP study requiring help with…OHP study requiring help with…Participant recruitmentParticipant recruitmentData collection Data collection Data entry & management Data entry & management Motivated RAs will have opportunities to Motivated RAs will have opportunities to

contribute to presentation and publication of contribute to presentation and publication of researchresearch

When should you begin thinking When should you begin thinking about grad school in I/O about grad school in I/O

psychology?psychology?Senior yearSenior year

GREGREPositive correlation between study time and scorePositive correlation between study time and scoreAllow time for make-up, if necessaryAllow time for make-up, if necessarySubject GRE?Subject GRE?

Application materials (due dates begin in Application materials (due dates begin in Dec)Dec)Recommendation lettersRecommendation letters

People who know you well and can comment on your People who know you well and can comment on your scholarly potentialscholarly potential

Personal statementPersonal statementGet examples & seek feedbackGet examples & seek feedbackTailor them to programsTailor them to programs

Why should you consider getting Why should you consider getting a degree in I/O psychology?a degree in I/O psychology?

Applied fieldApplied fieldThere will always be practical problems to There will always be practical problems to

solve!solve!Company restructuring & downsizingCompany restructuring & downsizingWorkplace diversityWorkplace diversity

Variety of job possibilitiesVariety of job possibilitiesAcademic positions in multiple Academic positions in multiple

departmentsdepartmentsInternal and external consultingInternal and external consultingPrivate and public organizationsPrivate and public organizationsAny combination of the aboveAny combination of the above

Why should you consider getting Why should you consider getting a degree in I/O psychology?a degree in I/O psychology?

Variety of research topicsVariety of research topicsAttitudes, emotions, behavior (social)Attitudes, emotions, behavior (social)Learning, memory, heuristics (cog)Learning, memory, heuristics (cog)Employee aging, retirement (develop)Employee aging, retirement (develop)Employee counseling, coaching (clinical)Employee counseling, coaching (clinical)Data analysis, test development (quant)Data analysis, test development (quant)

Field is growingField is growingMore and more I/O and mgmt dept’sMore and more I/O and mgmt dept’sOut with the old, in with the new…Out with the old, in with the new…

Thank you!Thank you!

Any more questions?Any more questions?