PSY255, Section 101
Introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Michigan State University
Summer 2010, Session 1
Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:40-3:30 pm
120 Psychology Building
Instructor:
Jessica Keeney
Office Phone (message only): 517-423-7098
Email (preferred method of contact):
jkeeney@msu.edu
Required
Textbook:
Office Hours: Wednesday 1-2 pm PSY348 or
by appointment
Spector, P. (2008). Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Research and
Practice (5th edition). New York: Wiley.
Course Website: www.angel.msu.edu
Prerequisite: PSY101
Course Description: This introductory course provides an overview of what
Industrial/Organizational (I/O) psychology is and what I/O psychologists do. It will focus on
work and performance, selection, training, attitudes and emotions at work, teams, and a number
of other topics central to the field. By the end of the course, you should be able to understand the
major areas and their theories, and appreciate/criticize some current practices used in business.
Many of the topics we discuss have relevance to you, either as a future psychologist or as a
future member of the workforce.
Objectives:
By the end of this course, you will be able to…
 Demonstrate a working knowledge of the field of I/O psychology, including:
o Definition
o Major content areas
o Applications

Given a term, choose or state the correct definition according to the textbook or lecture
notes.

Given the name of any I/O-related theory we study:
o Describe the major elements of the theory
o Compare and contrast the theory with competing theories
o Choose or write a practical application of the theory
Attendance and Participation: Attending class is an essential part of learning the material. As
such, it is expected that you will attend class every time it is held. Though a rough outline of the
lecture notes will be provided on the ANGEL website ahead of time to aid in taking notes during
class, this will NOT provide all of the information given during lecture and will not substitute for
class attendance. Exams will cover information from the book, class assignments, lecture, and
class activities. There is no formal penalty for missing class, but good class attendance will likely
improve your grade and enhance your understanding. I encourage you to participate and ask
questions.
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Expectations
I want each and every one of you to succeed in this course! I will be fair to all students, be
accessible, and supportive. My objective is to ignite an interest within you regarding the
principles and practices of I-O psychology, and how they contribute toward a better society and
better functioning workplaces. I will do everything in my power to maximize your learning. In
return, I expect you to work hard, to actively participate in class, and to study outside of class. I
believe every student can learn. Please take advantage of the office hours or make an
appointment if you are getting lost. My only request is that you be well prepared when you visit
my office, and that you see me earlier rather than later in the session if you are having trouble.
Readings
It is strongly recommended that you do the reading assignments before class (assigned dates are
listed on the course schedule).These readings will prepare you for the lectures, discussions, and
activities covered in class. TIP: Rather than highlighting your text, it is better to summarize what
you read in your own words in the margin of the book or in a separate notebook. Reading before
lecture may cut down on the amount of notes you need to take during lecture. Because lectures
attempt to hold your interest and help you integrate the information, they will not always follow
the book. By exam time, the student should recognize the integration of text and lecture material.
Being present for and engaged in class discussions are as important to your learning as the
textbook.
Behavior
My expectations for your behavior in this class are based on mutual respect among all members
of this class. Please uphold this respect by arriving to class on time, turning off cell phones, not
leaving early, and paying attention. Please do not come to class with the intention of chatting
with friends (in person or via text messaging), reading the newspaper, sleeping, or other
inappropriate activities. In addition, please respect the opinions of other students. Remain
courteous, including in your e-mail communications.
Evaluation
Assignments: There will be three take-home assignments. Assignments are due in person at the
beginning of class on the date listed in the course schedule. You will lose 5 points from your
assignment grade for every day that an assignment is late.
Exams: There will be two exams in this class. The midterm exam will be held on June 8th and
will cover all material leading up to and including training. The final exam (non-cumulative)
will be held on July 1st and will cover all material from motivation to organizational
development.
The exams may consist of multiple choice, fill in the blank, true/false, and short answer
questions. I will hold brief review sessions during the class period before each exam. If you need
additional assistance or have questions, please contact me in advance of the exam.
Because this is a summer course, we have a limited number of class sessions. Therefore, I will be
teaching new content on the day of each exam. We will begin class with the exam and will cover
new material afterwards. I expect all students to stay after the exam for class. Please bring other
work or a book with you on exam days so that you have something to do in case you finish your
exam before your classmates.
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Extra Credit: In addition to the regular assignments, each student may earn up to six course
points toward the total course score (2% of the final grade) through psychology and management
experiments pre-selected by the instructor. One point will be applied to the student’s final course
grade for each HALF HOUR of participation. Another option (if you want extra credit but do not
want to participate in the experiments) would be to write a 5-8 page paper on a designated topic.
If you want to do that you will need to speak with me and I will assign you a specific topic.
Course Grading:
Course points will be distributed as follows:
Assignment 1
Assignment 2
Assignment 3
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Total Possible
Points Possible
10
45
45
100
100
300 points
% of Final Grade
3.3%
15%
15%
33.3%
33.3%
100%
Date Due
May 20
June 1
June 24
June 8
July 1
Final grades will be distributed according to MSU’s 4-point grading scale:
Grade
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.0
Total Points
270-300
255-269
240-254
225-239
210-224
195-209
180-194
0-179
Percentage
90-100%
85-89%
80-84%
75-79%
70-74%
65-69%
60-64%
<60%
*If your final point total ends in .5 or up it will be rounded up to the next higher number.
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Course Schedule & Reading Assignments
Read
before class
Date
Day
Topic
May 18
Tues
What Is Industrial/Organizational Psychology?
History of I/O
Research Methods In I/O Psychology
No readings
May 20
Thu
Job Analysis
Chapter 3
**Assignment 1 due**
May 25
Tues
Performance Appraisal
Chapter 4
May 27
Thu
Assessment Methods for Selection and Placement
Chapter 5
June 1
Tues
Selecting Employees
Chapter 6
**Assignment 2 due**
June 3
Thu
Training
Chapter 7
June 8
Tues
Midterm Exam during first half of class
Chapter 8
Motivation
June 10
Thu
Feelings about work: Job attitudes and emotions
Chapter 9
June 15
Tues
Productive and Counterproductive Employee
Behavior
Chapter 10
June 17
Thu
Occupational health psychology
Chapter 11
June 22
Tues
Teams
Chapter 12
June 24
Thu
Leadership & Power
Chapter 13
**Assignment 3 due**
June 29
Tues
Organizational Development
Chapter 14
July 1
Thu
Final Exam
Special topics in I/O psychology
*Please note: The information contained in this syllabus is subject to change at the
discretion of the instructor. Students will be notified of changes to the syllabus.
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Please be familiar with the following policies
Academic Integrity: Academically dishonest behaviors are unacceptable and will not be
tolerated. Article 2.3.3 of the Academic Freedom Report states that, "The student shares with the
faculty the responsibility for maintaining the integrity of scholarship, grades, and professional
standards." You are expected to develop original work for this course; therefore, you may not
submit course work you completed for another course to satisfy the requirements for this course.
Also, you are not authorized to hand in work containing any reproductions, in whole or in part,
of material found on student aid websites (e.g., allmsu.com). Students who violate MSU rules
may receive a penalty grade, including—but not limited to—a failing grade on the assignment or
in the course. Visit the following websites for more details about MSU’s Academic Integrity
policies: www.msu.edu/unit/ombud/dishonestystud.html
Accommodations: If you have a disability, please let me know during the first week of class.
You can go to the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) website or office to
learn more about the services MSU offers to students with disabilities. You may make-up
coursework missed to observe a major religious holiday within a time negotiated with the
instructor. To do this, you must make arrangements with me at least one week in advance. In rare
cases of emergencies, exceptions to assignment deadlines may be permitted if you notify me at
least 24 hours prior to the deadline. Unreasonable requests or requests made in an untimely
manner may be denied.
Make-up Exam Policy: Exams will only be given during class as scheduled. No cell phones,
other digital devices, or caps are permitted during exams. If you are ill or have a personal
emergency on exam day, you must contact me PRIOR to the exam at 12:40 (via email or by
leaving a voice mail in my office). If you miss an exam without permission, you will receive a
zero for that exam. I will require documentation to support the need for an alternative exam
arrangement (for example, a note from your doctor). If you must take an exam early or are able
to provide documentation of the need for an alternative exam arrangement, I reserve the right to
give you a different exam in a different format (for example, an essay exam). Make-up exams
must be taken within four days of the originally scheduled exam date.
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