SJSU Annual Program Assessment Form
Academic Year 2014-2015
Department: Psychology
Program: Masters of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology
College: Social Sciences
Website: http://www.sjsu.edu/psych/Graduates/industrialpsych/index.html
_ Check here if your website addresses the University Learning Goals.
Program Accreditation (if any):
Contact Person and Email: Howard Tokunaga, Ph. D. (Program coordinator)
(howard.tokunaga@sjsuledu). Report was prepared by Drs. Howard Tokunaga and Megumi Hosoda
(megumi.hosoda@sjsu.edu).
Date of Report: June, 2015
Part A
1. List of Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) No change
Goal1: Students of the program will acquire a base of knowledge about the principles of psychology
as they are applied to industrial and organizational settings.
Objective 1a: Students will learn core psychological competencies including
a. History of I/O psychology and its integration into the broader discipline
b. Related fields of psychology (i.e., social psychology, personality psychology,
psychometrics, motivation, learning theory)
Objective 1b: Students will learn core I/O competencies including:
a. Ethical, legal and professional issues
b. Measurement of individual differences
c. Criterion theory and development
d. Job and task analysis
e. Employee selection
f. Performance appraisal and feedback
g. Training and development
h. Work motivation
i. Attitude theory
j. Organization theory
k. Organizational development
Objective 1c: Students will learn data collection and analysis skills including
a. Research methods (i.e., methods, procedures, and techniques used to conduct empirical
research in I/O psychology)
b. Statistical methods (i.e., techniques used in the analysis of data generated by empirical
research)
Goal 2: Students of the program will acquire a base of knowledge about the practice of I/O
psychology by applying the concepts of I/O psychology to the functioning of organizations
Objective 2a: Students will perform professional activities related to I/O psychology, but not
limited to:
a. Administering employee surveys
b. Evaluating organizational interventions
c. Conducting job analyses
d. Creating selection tests
e. Developing performance management systems
These PLOs are consistent with Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology’s Guidelines for
Education and Training at the Master’s Level Industrial and Organizational Psychology (1994).
Arlington Heights, IL: Author (http://www.siop.org/guidelines.aspx)
2. Map of PLOs to University Learning Goals (ULGs) No Change
ULG 1 Specialized
knowledge: Depth of
knowledge required
for a degree, as
identified by its
program learning
outcomes
Objective 1a: Students
will learn core
psychological
competencies
Objective 1b: Students
will learn core I/O
competencies
Objective 1c: Students
will learn data
collection and
analytical skills
ULG 2 Broad
integrative
knowledge:
Mastery in each step
of an investigative,
creative or practical
project (e.g.,
brainstorming,
planning, formulating
hypotheses or complex
questions, designing,
creating, completing,
and communicating).
An understanding of
the implications of
results of findings from
a particular work in a
societal context (e.g.,
social or economic
implications of a
scientific finding).
ULG 3 Intellectual
skills: Fluency in the
use of specific
theories, tools,
technology and
graphical
representation.
Skills and abilities
necessary for life-long
leaning: critical and
creative thinking,
effective
communication,
conscientious
information gathering
and processing,
mastery of
quantitative
methodologies, and
the ability to engage
effectively in
collaborative activities.
ULG 4 Applied
knowledge: The ability
to integrate theory,
practice, and problemsolving to address
practical issues.
The ability to apply
their knowledge and
skills to new settings or
in addressing complex
problems.
The ability to work
productively as
individuals and in
groups
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
ULG 5 Social & Global
Responsibilities: The
ability to act
intentionally and
ethically to address a
global or local problem
in an informed manner
with a multicultural
and historical
perspective and a clear
understanding of
societal and civic
responsibilities.
Diverse and global
perspectives through
engagement with the
multidimensional SJSU
community.
Objective 2a: Students
will perform
professional activities
related to I/O
psychology
x
x
x
Note that I/O psychology is psychology applied to the work setting and takes on a science-practitioner approach. This means that I/O psychology
generates scientific knowledge and applies that knowledge to address a real issue or problem in the workplace. Therefore, almost all courses in
our program have a theory and application component. In particular, thesis requirements map nicely onto ULG1, ULG2, and LUG3. Furthermore,
courses like Psyc249 (Fieldwork in I/O psychology) map onto ULG4.
3. Alignment – Matrix of PLOs to Courses
Psyc240
Research
design and
applied
psychometrics
Objective 1a:
Students will learn
core psychological
competencies
Objective 1b:
Students will learn
core I/O
competencies
Objective 1c:
Students will learn
data collection and
analytical skills
Objective 2a:
Students will
perform
professional
activities related to
I/O psychology
x
x
Psyc270
Seminar in
I/O
psychology
Psyc271
Seminar in
personnel
psychology
x
X
x
x
Stat235
Multivariate
analysis
Psyc249
Field work in
I/O
psychology
Psyc272
Training and
development
in
organizations
(Elective)
Psyc293
Organizational
development
(Elective)
Psyc296
Groups at
work
(Elective)
Psyc299
Master’s
thesis or
project
X
x
x
X
x
x
X
X
x
X
(class
project)
X
(class
project)
X
(class
project)
Although Psyc249 (Fieldwork in I/O psychology) maps directly to Objective 2a, many courses (e.g., Psyc270, Psyc271, Psyc272, Psyc293, Psyc296)
have an applied project where students conduct an I/O-related project.
4. Planning – Assessment Schedule
We will assess objectives 1a and 1b in Psyc271 (Seminar in personnel psychology) again.
5. Student Experience
The program’s PLOs are listed in Psychology department website
(http://www.sjsu.edu/psych/Graduates/industrialpsych/PLOs/index.html). As mentioned earlier, these
PLOS are consistent with SIOP’s Guidelines for Education and Training at the Master’s Level in Industrial
and Organizational Psychology (1994) (http://www.siop.org/guidelines.aspx). These PLOs may not have
been communicated to students via every single syllabus. Student feedback is not considered in the
creation of the PLOs.
Part B
6. Graduation Rates for Total, Non URM and URM students (per program and degree)
According to the IEA website (http://www.iea.sjsu.edu/cognos/cgi-bin/cognos.cgi), the number of
degrees awarded by MS I/O psychology in the last five years are
2010/2011
8
2011/2012
13
2012/2013
10
2013/2014
5
2014/2015
9
Thus, in the last 5 years, a total of 45 students were awarded with a MS degree.
Graduation Rate (%)
Graduation Rate (%)
2008 - 2013
89
100
90
90
80
60
54
45
40
20
0
0
2008
2009
2010
2011
Entering Class Year
2012
2013
The above figure shows graduation rates over the last six years. The average graduation rate is
61.3%, ranging from 0% to 90%. Most students finish their degree within their 3rd year. Many
times, an internship turns into a full-time position in an organization, thus, some students take
longer than 3 years to complete their thesis. Many of the students in the class of 2013 will graduate
in August 2015.
7. Headcounts of program majors and new students (per program and degree)
2011-2012
10
2012-2013
13
2013-14
9
2014-2015
13
A number of students we admit range from 9 to 13 students in a given year. However, for each
of the last four years, we have received more than 100 applications for the program.
8. SFR and average section size (per program)
A minimum headcount per section is 8. Most of the time, the average headcount per section is
higher than 8. Average SFR is about 4 students to 1 faculty advisor.
9. Percentage of tenured/tenure-track instructional faculty (per department)
There are three MS I/O faculty. Two are tenured and one is tenure track.
Part C
10. Closing the Loop/Recommended Actions
The 2013-2014 assessment report indicated the possibility of a mini-course. We have been
offering Psyc276 (Groups at Work). This course is an elective course and but we altered this
course as consisting of two-mini courses, leadership development and performance
management, rather than one course. We altered the purpose of this course to cover current
topics that are of value to our students. We started mini-courses’ in order to increase the
number of topics students can be exposed to within the program and we will keep offering this
mini-course.
11. Assessment Data
Assessment data for Objectives 1a and 1b come from Psyc271 (Applied Psychology of Human
Resources). An instructor, Altovise Rogers, gave two examinations and six homework
assignments throughout the semester to measure the students’ knowledge of various concepts
covered in Psyc271 (i.e. legal issues, selection tests, performance appraisal, job analysis,
recruitment). Results indicate that 7% received a grade of A+, 57% received a grade of A, and
36% received an a grade of A-, indicating solid performance by the students.
Students in Psyc272 (Training and Development) in Fall 2014 developed a Microsoft-Excel training course material for the Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology master’s program. A
common refrain that has been uttered by graduates of our master program is that Microsoft
Excel skills are greatly needed for I/O professionals in companies today. This was an attempt to
supplement all the great preparation that we are giving our students in usage of SPSS, by also
providing them with the ability to do data analyses and data visualization in Microsoft Excel as
well. The students put the knowledge and skills gained in the course into practice in the building
of this training course that would be offered over 2-3 weekends to alumni and graduate
students. To collect data that would make this an Excel course that would be suited to solve
business problems, students interviewed hiring managers, SJSU alumni, and business professors,
to create this training material. They have created surveys to be distributed and worked with
on-campus instructional designers to create the training content. Students in the course had
very favorable reactions to this applied learning experience. One of the students in class said
that “I see a lot of value in what we are doing. My classmates and I benefit from the application
of the many Instructional System Design techniques that we are learning in class.” Future
trainees will benefit from learning I/O related Excel skills that will help them stand out from the
competition when they begin applying for internships. “Personally, I draw great satisfaction
from the thought that I’m contributing to the creation of something that will remain at SJSU
after I cease to walk its halls!”
12. Analysis
Overall, the MS I/O psychology program is doing a great job of meeting its two major goals.
These are seen from students’ course performance and a high success rate in securing
internship positions, as well as a full-time job in an organization.
13. Proposed changes and goals (if any)
Because of favorable reactions from our students, we will keep implementing a mini-course in
Psyc276.