Historical Background to Industrial/Organizational Psychology

General InformationIndustrial/Organizational Psychology

APA founded in 1892 - now has 53 divisions I/O represented by Division 14 (SIOP) Approx. 4% of Psychologists work in I/O I/O –related organizations

Society for Industrial / Organizational Psych for APA or APS members only

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

What is I/O Psychology?

•Guion (1965) - “The scientific study of the relationship between man and the world at work: the study of the adjustment people make to the places they go, the people they meet, and the things they do in the process of making a living.”

•Blum & Naylor (1968) - “The application or extension of Psychological principles to the problems concerning human beings operating within the context of business and industry.”

Where Do I/O Psychologists Work?

Universities35%

Consulting Firms39%

Government6%

Industry20%

Areas within I/O Psychology• Personnel Psychology – selection, training, and assessment

of employees• Organizational Behavior – social & group influences,

communication, org structure/hierarchy, leadership, motivation issues

• Ergonomics/Human Factors – human-machine interaction, job design, optimizing human abilities

• Vocational/Career Counseling – career path, retirement prep, Employee Assistance Programs

• Organizational Development – diagnosing org problems, plan, implement, and assess change

• Industrial Relations - labor issues, management -union liaison to resolve conflict

LicensureShould I/O Psychologists Be Licensed?

Requirements:• Doctoral degree from accredited university• 2 yrs supervised practice with licensed psychologist• Pass comprehensive exam

Certification laws – title “Psychologist”Licensing laws – title and practice of Psych

(link to Florida Licensing Statute)

History of I/O Psychology

• Wilhelm Wundt (1879) – Father of Psychology

• Bryan & Harter (1897) – first paper describing the study and application of psych to work activities (Morse code telegraphers)– Coined the term “industrial psychology” by

mistake

History of I/O Psychology

• Frank & Lillian Gilbreth (turn of century) – time & motion studies– Coined the term “therblig”

• Walter Dill Scott (1911) – “Increasing Human Efficiency in Business”

• Frederick Taylor (1911) – “The Principles of Scientific Management”

F. TaylorGilbreths

Taylor’s 4 principles of Scientific Management

1. Science over rules of thumb

2. Scientific selection and training

3. Cooperation over individualism

4. Equal division of work best suited to management and employees

History of I/O Psychologycontinued

• Hugo Münsterberg (1913) – father of I/O psychology– “Psychology and Industrial Efficiency” – Application of psych to sales– Trolley car simulator– Lie detector using HR, GSR, Free Association,

Automograph– German working in U.S. until WWI

• World War I (1914 – 1918) – Army Alpha project - Army hires psychologists to screen recruits for intelligence, motivation, & skill for placement

• Journal of Applied Psychology (1917) – first I/O journal – documented Army Alpha & Beta projects

History of I/O Psychologycontinued

• James Cattell (1921) – forms Psychological Corporation to provide services to industry

• Hawthorne Studies (1924) – research by Harvard & MIT– led by Elton Mayo– seek cost effective ways to reduce expenses– adjusted lighting levels– Hawthorne effect

• World War II (1941 –1946) – Army hires I/O psychologists to select & classify recruits– Army General Classification Test (AGCT)– Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)

• Post-WWII – Human Factors psych to deal with increased technology, Personnel Psych to deal with selection and training, Org Behavior & Org Development for social issues

History of I/O Psychologycontinued

• Civil Rights Movement (1960’s) – I/O Psychologists accused of being pawns of management

• Title VII of Civil Rights Act (1964) – forbade discrimination on race, color, religion, gender, or national origin – established Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

• Supreme Court (1971) – Griggs v. Duke Power– burden of proof for fairness of testing was on employer– test must be job-relevant

History of I/O Psychologycontinued

Future of I/O Psychology

• What skills will workers need?– 25 million illiterate adults in U.S.– Lack necessary computer skills

• Workplace diversity–Baby boomers retiring – positions to fill–Most workers will be over 35 yrs–Minorities will make up 35% of workforce (compared to 15% in 1980s) and 50% of all new workers will be women.

• Employment opps for I/O psychologists (1994 stats)

–With master’s degree – avg salary $71k–With Ph.D. – avg salary $94k