psyc 457 industrial psychology · college of education school of continuing and distance education...

College of Education

School of Continuing and Distance Education2014/2015 – 2016/2017

PSYC 457

Industrial Psychology

Session 1 – THE NATURE AND HSTORY OF INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY

Lecturer: Dr. Maxwell A. Asumeng, Dept., of Psychology, UG, LegonContact Information: [email protected]

Session Overview

• Industrial psychology is about the use ofpsychological concepts, principle and theories toproblems in organizational setting. Specifically:

• To increase organizational effectiveness and increaseemployee satisfaction at the work.

• This session seeks to introduce students to thenature, history and scope of industrial psychology.

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Session Objectives

At the end of the session, the student will

• Understand the subject matter of industrialpsychology

• Be able to explain the two main aims industrialpsychology

• Explain why the services of industrial psychologistsare important.

• Understand and explain the history of industrialpsychology

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Reading List

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Aamondt, M. G. (2016). Industrial/Organizational Psychology: An Applied Approach (5th ed.).

Belmont, C.A: Wadsworth/Thompson.

Arnold, J. (2005). Work Psychology: Understanding Human Behaviour in the workplace (4th ed.).

England: Prentice Hall.

Asumeng, M. A. & Agyemang, C. B. (2015). Old but young: Over 30 years of Industrial and

Organisational Psychology in Ghana-Practice, challenges and prospects. In N. Taylor (ed.)

The Histories Project: Perspectives of Psychology in Africa. Pp. 27-32. JVR Psychometrics

Press. Johannesburg, South Africa.

Asumeng, M. A. & Kumako, S. (2014). Industrial and Organisational Psychology. In C. S., Akotia &

C. C. Mate-Kole (eds.) Contemporary Psychology Readings from Ghana. Pp. 147-162.

University of Ghana Readers. Digibooks Ghana Ltd.

Landy, F. J. & Conte, J. M. (2007). Work in the 21st Century: An Introduction to Industrial and

Organizational Psychology (2nd ed.). Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.

Millward, L. J. (2005). Understanding Occupational and Organisational Psychology. London: Sage

Pub.

Muchinsky, P. M. (2012). Psychology applied to work (10th ed.). Summerfield, NC: Hypergraphics

Press.

Session Outline

The key topics to be covered in the session are as follows:

• Topic One: What is Industrial Psychology?

• Topic Two : Why are the services of Industrial Psychologists important?

• Topic Three: History of Industrial Psychology

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WHAT IS INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY?

Topic One

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Definition of Industrial Psychology

• Industrial Psychology is also known as OrganizationalPsychology, Occupational Psychology, Work Psychology /Business Psychology.

• It is the application of psychological principles and theoriesto Industrial, organizational, and business/commercesettings and workplaces.

• It is about the application of Psychological principles andtheories to the production, distribution or marketing(buying and selling), and consumption (use) of goods andservices.

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• It concerns the performance of people at work.

• Developing understanding of how organizationsfunction and how individuals and groups behave atwork (British Psychological Society/BPS, 2004).

Aims of Industrial Psychology

• To increase organizational effectiveness: Howsuccessful organizations are, in terms of the way theyuse their resources effectively and efficiently toachieve the goals or objectives for which they wereestablished.

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• By applying psychological expertise industrialpsychology aims to improve organization’seffectiveness.

• To increase satisfaction of employees at work: Theextent to which employees are satisfied with severalaspects of their job such as pay, promotionopportunities and other benefits.

• Industrial psychologists faciltate that people arehappy at work and perform to the best of theirabilities.

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These two aims enhance the fulfillment of PsychologicalContract in organizations.

• Psychological Contract: Belief system of individual employeesand employers regarding their mutual obligations.

• Employees -invest inputs (time, expertise, skills, abilities etc.).

• Employers : provide adequate remuneration for employees

• Perceived violation of contract by employers:-Employeesengage in: Counter-Productive Behaviors- (absenteeism,sabotage, lateness, strike actions, quitting the organization)

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WHY ARE THE SERVICES OF INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGISTS IMPORTANT?

Topic Two

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• The services of Industrial Psychologists are increasingin demand but there are few of them in Ghana.

• Organisations are deeply concerned about the needto recruit personnel, retain , train and motivatethem, and realize the potential of the humanresources on which success depends.

• Industrial Psychologists are the best qualified toadvise on human resource strategies and thesolutions.

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• They are the only professional group that have aminimum of six years in degree and postgraduatetraining in psychology; specifically to know howpeople behave individually and in groups inorganization.

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How does one become an Industrial psychologist?

• To qualify as an Industrial psychologist, it is essentialto have a first degree in general psychology, obtain ahigher degree or masters or PhD or any other postgraduate qualification in Industrial psychology or thefirst degree and an intensive practical training underthe supervision of an existing Industrial psychologist.

• The University of Ghana runs post graduateprogrammes of study in Master of Philosophy (MPhil)and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in Industrialand Organisational Psychology.

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HISTORY OF INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY

Topic Three

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• World War I and the emergence of IndustrialPsychology

• I/O psychology emerged from World War I (1914-1918) with a reputation as a useful personnelmanagement tool (Saal & Knight, 2000). Personnelmanagement activities--

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Contributions Psychologists made to the US Armyduring World War 1

Psychologists made four contributions to the US Army(personnel management activities):

• 1. Military Personnel Selection and Placement

• 2. Military Training

• 3. Military Performance Appraisal

• 4. Design of military equipment (engineeringpsychology or ergonomics)

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• Military Personnel Selection and Placement

• Psychologists were challenged to use their psychologicalknowledge, principles and theories to help in theselection and placement of military personnel into theUS army.

• Developed some intelligence and aptitude tests formilitary personnel selection.

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• The Army Alpha Test. (verbal and reading skills)

• The Army Beta Test (performance of intellectuallydemanding tasks

• Using the Army Alpha and the Beta Tests,psychologists helped in the selection, classificationand placement of enlisted soldiers in the US army.

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• Military Personnel Training

• Developed tests designed to measure trainingproficiencies and other aptitudes and potential tosuccessfully complete officer training

• Training of pilots to operate the variety of complexwar planes being designed and produced by the USindustry

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• Military Performance Appraisal

• Developed Military PA systems. PA -assessingwhether or not personnel are performingsatisfactorily at work.

• Promotion decisions on employees are usually basedon PA outcomes.

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• Engineering Psychology (Ergonomics/ Human –Machine Interaction)

• Investigates the interaction of humans with boththeir working environments and equipment.

• Design machines which can be used more easily, andwhich allows employees to give their bestperformance.

• Designed military equipment, aircraft cockpits.

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• Post World War II

• Testing program for selecting and placing militarypersonnel was perceived to be highly successful.

• Managers in private and public organizations andindustries seized on the possibilities of effectivelyusing tests to select new employees in the US.

• Beginning of the use of psychological tests inpersonnel selection in organizations and industries.

• Industrial Psychology spread to other parts of theworld.

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ASSIGNMENT/SAMPLE QUESTIONS

• ‘Industrial Psychology emerged from World War 1 with a reputation as a useful personnel management tool in the US Army’. Discuss.

• Explain the two main aims of industrial psychologists

• What is the meaning of psychological contract in organizations, and why are industrial psychologists concerned about it?

• Why do you think the services of industrial psychologists are important in Ghana?

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psyc 457 industrial psychology · college of education school of continuing and distance education...

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