Industrial Psychology, Psyc 104, Fall 2007
Stephen J. Guastello, Ph.D. Office: Cramer Hall 328Q. Office hours: M, W 2:30 -3:30 or call
for an appointment: Tel. 288-6900. Fax: 288-5333. We can also correspond by email:
Stephen.Guastello@marquette.edu
OVERVIEW
GOALS
Industrial/Organizational Psychology (also known as
Industrial Psychology or I/O Psychology) is the study
of people at work. Not all work takes place in
classical industrial settings, of course. What we learn
here is applicable to service, information-based, and
non-profit organizations, as well.
The subject matter of I/O is usually placed into
three convenient categories. The first and oldest is
the relationship between the individual employee and
the organization as a whole. Specific topics would
include selecting the right people for the right job,
methods of assessing job applicants’ capabilities,
measuring work performance, training, and the
analysis of job requirements. This perspective has
dominated the personnel and performance topics
since the beginning of the field in the early 20th C.
Until recently, personnel selection comprised at least
50% of what I/O psychologists do.
The second category pertains to the behavior or
groups and organizations as a whole. Topics in this
area include the performance of work teams,
leadership, other group dynamics, and changes in
business strategy. This line of study crystallized in
the 1960s and resulted in the change of the name of
the field from “industrial” to I/O psychology. In the
theory behind organizational development -- how
organizations change from one state to another -the group is recognized as the building block of the
organization.
The third major area involves human factors
engineering, and occupational safety and health.
These topics are covered in a different course (Psyc
114).
In the last decade there has been a noticeable
shift in the science and practice of I/O psychology.
Personnel selection is no longer confined to the job
of picking the right individuals. It has become a
matter of picking the right groups, and developing
them as a functional unit. Theories of group
interactions have become much more important.
When the labor market shifts, one of the more
common concerns of employers becomes how to
prevent turnover.
There is also newfound interest in understanding
work-related phenomena as they change over time.
Partially as a result of this perspective, our concept of
the organization has transformed from a mechanistic
bureaucracy to that of a complex adaptive system.
The goals of the course can be summarized as
follows: (1) To accumulate an understanding of the
subject matter of I/O psychology. An outline of topics
is included with this syllabus. (2) To utilize the I/O
knowledge base to solve work-related problems.
Here the student should be able to identify real-world
situations where the phenomena that we are learning
about in class are taking place -- or should be taking
place. (3) To develop some experience for some of
the phenomena discussed in class through structured
exercises.
DATE
8/27
8/29
9/5
9/10
9/17
9/24
10/8
10/10
10/15
10/31
11/5
11/12
11/26
11/28
12/3
12/5
12/10
TOPIC
Introduction.
Methods, reliability and validity
(L&C 1-2).
Psychological Assessments, Tests
and interviews (L&C 3). Term
papers chosen by this date.
Job analysis and job performance
(L&C 4-6).
Personnel decisions utility, legal
issues.
Work Motivation. Job Satisfaction,
attitudes and (L&C 8-9)
Mid-term exam (L&C 1-6).
No class because of conference travel.
Assignment will be handed out.
More attitudes, stress, fairness
(L&C 9-11)
Special demonstration.
Group dynamics, teams. (L&C 1213)
Leadership
Organizations, climate and culture,
organizational change (L&C 14).
Class Presentations, term paper topics.
Class Presentations, term paper topics.
Class Presentations, term paper topics.
turn in term papers.
Final exam.
This room 3:30-5:30 PM
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
The dates on the table (other side) indicate when a
topic is scheduled to start. The topic may spill over to
another class during this semester. Reading
assignments are included with the topics and dates;
see under “Texts” for explanations.
TEXT BOOK
Landy, F. J., & Comte, J. M. (2007). Work in the 21st
Century (2nd ed). Malden, MA: Blackwell.
Term Papers
There will be a term paper in this course. It should
be at least 15 pages in length, including figures,
tables, and reference list. References should be in A
P A Style. The term papers will be accompanied by a
brief presentation in class. Powerpoint is preferred
for presentations, but it is not required. Visual aids of
some sort are almost always helpful, however.
A list of topics and other specifications for the term
paper will be handed out separately. Papers will be
due at the time of your presentation. Students’
presentation dates will be specified when we assign
topics.
GRADES
Grades in Psyc 104 are based on a midterm exam,
a final exam, a term paper, and a few brief written or
other in-class activities. Each of the four items is
worth approximately 25% of your total grade; the
total grade is based on the specific number of points
associated with each particular item.
The latter group of activities is, to a great extent,
“ungraded” in the sense that credits are awarded for
having completed the activity. There is an implicit
assumption here that a certain amount of learning
takes place in the classroom that does not lend itself
to the usual grading formats. In-class activities are
meant to be done in class. Because of the tightness
of the class schedule, there can be no make-ups on
in-class activities. The writing assignments fall into
the category also, but they must be complete for full
credit. The goal of the writing assignments is to have
something to turn in and something to discuss in
class.
This year, the midterm and final exams will consist
of multiple choice questions plus an essay. The term
paper will give you an opportunity to write in greater
depth. Letter grades are assigned as follows, and
are based on the total number of points a student is
meant to collect for the various assignments and
tests in this course: A = 85% of total, AB 80%, B
70%, BC =65%, C = 60%, CD = 55%, D = 50%,
and F < 50