San Diego State University
Imperial Valley Campus
720 Heber Ave.
Calexico, CA 92231
Division of Arts and Sciences
PSY 319 – Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Spring 2014
Wednesday, 7:25pm-10:05pm, Room N-101
Instructor's Name: Dr. Kathleen Lang, DPA Phone: (760) 554-4001 Email: klang@mail.sdsu.edu
Student-Instructor Meeting Options: In person, by appointment only, 1 hour prior to class
(Wednesdays between 6:25 and 7:25 pm); telephone, M-F 8:00-5:00 or evenings/weekend by
appointment.
Note for Students with Disabilities: If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need
accommodations for this class, it is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619)
594-6473. To avoid any delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact Student
Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that I
cannot provide accommodations based upon disability until I have received an accommodation letter from
Student Disability Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Course Prerequisites: Psychology 101: Introduction to Psychology
Required Text: Riggio, R.E. (2013). Introduction to Industrial/Organizational Psychology (6th
edition) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Course Description: Broad-based survey of various content areas of industrial (e.g. selection,
appraisal) and organizational (e.g. motivation, leadership) psychology. Underlying psychological
principles that influence human behavior in the workplace. Not open to students with credit in
Psychology 320 or 321.
Course Objectives: This course introduces the field of Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology,
including a broad description and examination of the psychology of work behavior. This objective is
achieved through a study of prominent I/O theories and relevant applications in the work place, as well as
research investigations related to O/I psychology. The course will examine a variety of pertinent issues,
including job analysis, employee screening and selection, employee training and performance appraisal
process, worker motivation and job satisfaction, leadership and power, and organizational structure and
development.
To complete the foundation for this course, a thorough understanding of social scientific research
methods and current psychological research findings are emphasized. The course incorporates discussion
and exploration of recent developments and emerging concepts in research and theory pertaining to I/O
psychology.
Course Format: The primary format for this course is lecture and small, in-class group
activities.
Dr. K. Lang
PSY 319
Spring 2014
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Learning Objectives (additional learning objectives for each chapter are available in the
Learning Objectives document): After completing this course, students should be able to:
1. Define industrial/organizational psychology and discuss its various areas of interest.
2. Generally describe the history and development of I/O psychology.
3. Explain why social scientific research methods are important, and describe the four goals
of this method in I/O Psychology.
4. Define job analysis, the personnel products it yields, and its importance in organizations.
5. Understand the processes involved in human resources planning.
6. List the various methods of employee screening, including the use of various types of
employee tests and their effectiveness.
7. Describe the various areas of employee training.
8. Compare social learning theory and cognitive theories of learning.
9. Discuss the basic need theories of motivation, and their respective strengths/weaknesses.
10. Understand the numerous positive outcomes of employee engagement, for the worker,
the organization, and society as a whole.
11. Define job satisfaction, including the different approaches to its definition.
12. Identify worker stress and discuss the various sources of worker stress.
13. Describe the communication process and define its various components.
14. Define work groups and teams, discuss the development of roles and norms, and define
organizational socialization.
15. Assess conflict as it occurs in work groups and organizations, the various levels of
conflict in work settings, and sources of conflict.
16. Discuss the various behavioral theories of leadership, and their respective strengths and
weaknesses.
17. Categorize influence, power, and politics, and differentiate their form and uses in work
organizations.
18. Discuss power and its relationship to leadership.
19. Differentiate functional and divisional organizational structures, and their respective
strengths and weaknesses.
20. Define organizational culture and its influence on work outcomes.
Grading: Your grade in the class will be determined by your performance on three examinations, which
draw on material from both the text and class. The exams will consist of objective style questions
(multiple choice, true/false). Each exam will be weighted equally (33.3%) and will contribute one-third
(33.3%) of your final grade. The exams are non-cumulative, meaning that Exam #2 will only cover the
material since the previous exam (Exam #1), and Exam # 3 will only cover the material since the previous
exam (Exam # 2).
 Grading Scale, by % points
 94 – 100% = A, 90 – 93% = A 87 – 89% = B+, 84 – 86% = B, 80 – 83% = B 77 – 79% = C+, 74 – 76% = C, 70 – 73% = C 67 – 69% = D+, 64 – 66% = D, 60 – 63% = D 59% or below = F
Dr. K. Lang
PSY 319
Spring 2014
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Tentative Course Schedule
Week of …
Text Chapter
Topic
January 22
Chapters 1
Introduction, History, and Research Methods
January 29
Chapters 2
Research Methods
February 5
Chapter 3
Job Analysis
February 12
Chapter 4
Employee Selection
February 19
Chapter 5
Employee Screening
February 26
CHAPTERS 1-5 EXAM #1 (Value: 33.3% of Total Grade)
Chapter 6
Evaluating Employee Performance
March 5
Chapter 7
Employee Training and Development
March 12
Chapter 8
Motivation
March 19
Chapter 9
Positive Employee Attitudes
March 26
Chapter 10
Negative Employee Attitudes
April 2
SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS
April 9
CHAPTERS 6-10 EXAM #2 (Value: 33.3% of Total Grade)
Chapter 11
Communication in the Workplace
April 16
Chapter 12
Group Processes in Work Organizations
April 23
Chapter 13
Leadership
April 30
Chapter 14
Influence, Power, and Politics Organizational
May 7
CHAPTERS 11-15 EXAM #3 (Value: 33.3% of Total Grade)
Chapter 15
Structure, Culture, and Development
POLICIES
Make-Up Exams: If you cannot take the exam when scheduled, please arrange for a make-up exam
before the regularly scheduled exam. Only in rare cases (e.g., unexpected illness or emergency) will you
be allowed to do a make-up exam after the scheduled exam date.
Extra Credit: Your grade is determined by your performance on the three exams. Extra credit
assignments are not an option and cannot be used as a substitute for poor performance on the exams.
Class Attendance: Fifty percent of the material on the exams will come from the class sessions and
cannot be obtained from the textbook or online. The incentive to come to class is better test performance.
Dr. K. Lang
PSY 319
Spring 2014
Page 3 of 4
Student Appeals: If for any reason a student feels that he/she has need for an exception to the
program or any other programmatic issue that need to be addressed, they must adhere to the
following procedures:
1. Talk to their professor of record
2. If the issue is not resolved, talk with the division chair
3. The student also has the right to the SDSU Student appeal process delineated at the
following website: http://www.sa.sdsu.edu/srr/index.html
Academic Dishonesty: Students may be suspended, placed on probation, or given a lesser
sanction for one or more of the following causes, which must be campus related:
1. Cheating or plagiarism in connection with an academic program at a campus
2. Forgery, alteration, or misuse of campus documents, records, or identification
RECOMMENDED STUDY STRATEGIES
Class Preparation
 Read the material in the text prior to class
 Do the “Practice Quiz” at the end of the chapter (sometimes we won’t read all of the chapter, so
just do the quiz for the assigned material)
 Come to all class session
 Pay attention in class and take notes on the handouts
 Ask questions in class (there are no dumb questions from students, just an occasional dumb
answer from your instructor)
Exam Preparation
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Begin studying at least one week before the exam
Make a list of important terms from the class handouts and the bold faced items in the chapters
Define the important terms in your own words
Quiz yourself or get a study group on the “Review Questions” at the end of each chapter
Review the material in the class handouts
Call or e-mail me if you are unclear about any of the information
Exam Taking
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Listen carefully to my instructions before you attempt the exam
Read each question and all of the alternative choices carefully
Come to the front of the room and ask me to explain any questions you are not clear about
Go back over your exam and be sure you answered every question
Do not go back and change an answer unless you are absolutely sure you now know the correct
answer (remember, your first guess is often your best guess)
Dr. K. Lang
PSY 319
Spring 2014
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