Week 1 - Introduction

Question 1

What is organisational psychology?

Answer 1

Application of psychological principles, theory and research to work setting

Question 2

Where do org psychs assist?

Answer 2

Systems - selection, training, performance management, promotion
Problems - human error, occupational stress, incivility, absenteeism

Question 3

Aims of organisational psychology

Answer 3

Productivity, performance, wellbeing

Question 4

Org psych practice cycle

Answer 4

Job analysis > recruitment > selection > training > job design > performance and motivation > career planning

Question 5

Timeline of organisational psychology

Answer 5

Experimental psychology > individual differences > classic management theory > scientific management > WWs > human relations era

Question 6

Scientific management

Answer 6

Time and motion studies - Taylor, 1911
Documentation of optimum performance (standardisation, simplification)
Skills training (optimise task knowledge and find best person)
Incentive schemes

Question 7

World Wars

Answer 7

Tests to classify military personnel (SB - intelligence, aptitude)
Objective measures to cut through prejudice
Human factors (fit the job to the person, e.g. cockpits)

Question 8

Human relations era

Answer 8

Hawthorne studies - found changes to behaviour simply from awareness of being observed (showed workers as human)
Contributed to change in field - attitudes affect behaviour, emphasis on job satisfaction, workers as individuals

Question 9

Title VII of Civil Rights Act (1964)

Answer 9

Protects workers from discrimination in selection testing
Employers must justify use of test

Question 10

Pay cut studies

Answer 10

Theft - workers who had pay reduced + limited explanation began to steal
Insomnia - high insomnia for workers who were underpaid, especially with managers who were untrained in ‘interactional justice’

These show work affects wellbeing.

Question 11

Scientific method

Answer 11

Problem > hypotheses > data gathering > hypotheses testing > interpretation/theory formulation > solution implementation

Question 12

Science and practice in org psych

Answer 12

Scientific inquiry - theory development and investigation into people and work
Professional practice - application of knowledge to solve problems

Question 13

Leadership myths

Answer 13

Research shows that leadership is actually two-thirds developed and that woman have more transformational leadership qualities

Question 14

Challenges in conducting applied research

Answer 14

Design problems - samples, methods, RQs
Ethical problems - coercion, consent, anonymity, copyright
Practical problems - stakeholder opposition, findings unhelpful, difficulty recruiting