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Industrial/Organizational Psychology

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Industrial/Organizational Psychology
The field of industrial/organizational psychology is one, which provides a fundamental concept that are essential to assist in the improvement in the quality of the environment for employees while also positively affecting the efficiency of the employees behavior and productiveness in that environment (Barnes-Holmes et. al., 2006, p. 56.) The field of industrial and organizational psychology (I/O) has had a very significant evolution from its original concepts to what it is today. This study is vastly different from other disciplines of psychology in many ways as one may find within this paper. The paper will also include a brief explanation of how I/O psychology can be used in organizations and the role that research and statistics plays within the field.
Evolution of I/O Psychology
The evolution of I/O psychology was identified in the 20th century rooting back to the late 1800s and early 1900s. It has had a large influence to the Western society even though it is seen in many other societies. During the industrial revolution it became relevant how I/O psychology has become an asset to industries and organizations. The field started its focus on job performance and organizational efficiency and evolved to what it is today.

The new principles of psychology and its applications to problems in organizations heightened the interest of experimental psychologist. Two, which have been given credit with founding the field of I/O psychology, Hugo Munsterberg and Walter Dill Scott. Munsterberg and Scott were university professors, which applied psychology to the issues that can be seen in many organizations. Munsterberg and Scott were interested in many of the same issues even thought they each thrived or focused on different areas. Munsterberg focused on testing used for employee selection while Scott focused on the psychology of advertising.
Even though the credit has been given to Munsterberg and Scott there are others who influenced I/O psychology. Fredrick Winslow Talor is one who made an impact on I/O psychology as he studied and developed employee productivity guides. Others like Frank and Lillian Gilbreth studied the efficiency and different approaches of performing tasks. The Gilbreth’s combined their efforts while complementing each other’s information. Franks engineering background melded greatly with Lillian’s psychologist background. It was this diverse collection of knowledge that allowed them to develop theories concerned with the design of technology to be used by people.

The first large-scale application of I/O psychology was from the development of the Amy Alpha and Army Beta group tests for mental ability (Spector, 2008.) It tested and placed the new recruits into positions they were best suited. Today I/O psychology entails analyzing, conducting, designing, developing, evaluation, and implementing. It is seen that I/O psychology is geared toward enhancing the effectiveness and functioning of organizations. Only through employee selection, training, and task design this is made possible.

Differences and Uses of Industrial/Organizational Psychology
One can find many differences between I/O psychology and that of other disciplines. Many other disciplines of psychology focus on the one-on-one or face-to-face connection that is needed; some strive to make an intimate connection to ensure trust in the psychologist. In I/O psychology this is not strived for yet avoided. One attempts to observe/research while gathering statistics to practice/implement the research. Other disciplines allow either large or small-scale analysis and implementation while I/O psychology allows for both.

There are many ways that I/O psychology can be used by organizations. An organization may utilize an I/O psychologist to assist with the placement of the employees who work for the company. This can help cut turnaround percentages as the proper assessment can identify where and why an employee could be more productive in one area and less in another. This is the different between three years or 30 years of employment. Organizations can also use I/O psychology to assist in training and developing technology to work with humans so that job production can increase with safety and satisfaction. By identifying new, easier, and faster processes of doing an old job one ensures that the job is being completed in the most substantial way.
Research and Statistics in I/O Psychology
It seems that there are two main situations, in which I/O psychology is conducted, both research and practice (Spector, 2008.) In both situations there is overlapping as they coexist well. During the research side of I/O psychology one develops psychological principles that can be applied to the work environment, hiring practices, and general business structure of the industries and organizations. In the practice side one applies the psychological principles to identify statistics. In either setting I/O psychology uses a scientific approach to identify underlying principles relevant to businesses and organizations.

It can be seen that I/O psychology uses four concepts that extend knowledge to the scientific method of I/O psychology. The first is the research question this needs to be testable through a specific method using precise predications regarding the outcome of the hypothesis. The second concept is the research design that can be invasive or observational. There are several types of research design that are as follows: survey designs that can be cross-sectional and longitudinal; observational designs that can be obtrusive and unobtrusive; and qualitative studies that utilize non-quantitative data. The third and fourth are measurement and statistics frame-work; and implementation of scientific method. There are several forms of data that are considered. The classical measurement theory (CMT) indicates that true score and error are the two possibilities of outcome. One must ask what the reliability is, which is the comparative data into an outline analysis identified as descriptive statistics (Ones & Viswesvaran, 2002, p. 47). The two types of are categorical measurement and continuous measurement both can be used for large bodies of numerical data.
In Conclusion It is easy to see that I/O psychology is a field that is fundamental in its concepts that are essential to the improvement in the quality of the environment for employees so that there can be positive effects in efficiency, behavior, and productivity seen. What many do not always realize is that it is this was derived from simple theoretical methods to the scientific methods that are utilized today. There is great understanding that comes along with knowing how this field has evolved into a very different discipline of psychology then other disciplines of psychology as well as how the research and statistics can be used to benefit other organizations. The future of I/O psychology will always assist with the practice and research of industrial and organizational efficiency that address problems and issues in the workplace between that and humans.

References
Barnes-Holmes, D., Barnes-Holmes, Y., Bond, F.W., Hayes, S.C., Stewart, I. (2006). Relational frame theory and industrial/organizational psychology. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 26(1/2), 55-90. Retrieved November 25, 2011, from Education Research Complete database.
Ones, D.S., Viswesvaran, C. (2002). Industrial-organizational (I/O) psychology to organizational behavior management (OBM): Join the family-individual differences matter. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 22(2), 41-57. Retrieved November 27, 2011, from Education Research Complete database.
Spector, P. (2008). Industrial and organizational psychology: Research and practice, 5e. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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