INTRODUCTION TO I/O PSYCHOLOGY: THE ROOTS AND EARLY HISTORY OF

DEFINITIONS AND HISTORY I/O PSYCHOLOGY

- The branch of psychology that is THE BEGINNINGS
concerned with the study of behavior in
• HUGO MUNSTERBERG (German
work settings and the application of
businessman)
psychology principles to change work
behavior. - He became interested in the design of work and
- It involves the study and understanding personnel selection for jobs such as streetcar
of all aspects of behavior and higher operator.
mental processes in the workplace.
• WALTER DILL SCOTT

➢ He became interested in studying salesperson

THE SCIENCE AND PRACTICE OF I/O and the psychology of advertising.
PSYCHOLOGY
➢ First professor in I/O psychology and also
OBJECTIVES OF I/O PSYCHOLOGY
started a psychological consulting company in
1. TO CONDUCT RESEARCH IN AN 1919.
EFFORT TO INCREASE OUR
• FREDERICK W. TAYLOR (Industrial
KNOWLEDGE AND
Engineer)
UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN
WORK BEHAVIOR. ➢ He believed that scientific principles could be
2. TO APPLY THAT KNOWLEDGE TO applied to the study of work behavior to help
IMPROVE THE WORK BEHAVIOR, increase worker efficiency and productivity.
THE WORK ENVIRONMENT, AND
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ➢ Time-and-motion studies (the procedures in
CONDITIONS OF WORKERS. (to which work tasks are broken down into simple
make the conditions of workers to be component movements and the movements
effective, productive and efficient, not timed to develop a more efficient method for
just in the workplace but also in those performing tasks)
people around them; 3 aspects: personal,
occupational, sociological aspect of ➢ Scientific management (a method of using
work) scientific principles to improve the efficiency
and productivity of jobs)
• FRANK AND LILLIAN GILBRETH
- Implemented the principles of scientific
management and revolutionized several physical
labor jobs by making the accepted work
procedures more efficient and productive. (had
12 children – used time and motion – been
efficient for physical labor)
WORLD WAR I AND THE 1920s
- I/O psychologists are considered to be • ROBERT YERKES
both a scientists and practitioners
➢ President of APA
➢ Created Army Alpha and Army Beta 3. Creation of Army General Classification
together with the group of psychologists Test
4. Screening tests were also developed to
*Army Alpha – an assessment used for those select candidates for officer training
who are able to read and understand
THE POSTWAR YEARS AND THE MODERN
English. (verbal exams) ERA
*Army Beta – used for those who have
difficulties understanding and reading
English. (nonverbal exams)

• JAMES McKEEN CATTELL

➢ Founded Psychological Corporation

THE GREAT DEPRESSION YEARS AND

WWII
• ELTON MAYO
I/O PSYCHOLOGY TODAY AND IN THE
➢ Studied the effects of physical work FUTURE
environment on worker productivity. (the results
of their study are that workers are aware that (need to understand the worker, work
they are being observed by their heads – tending environment or setting, work behavior)
to be productive)
FOUR KEY TRENDS
➢ Hawthorne effect
➢ The changing nature of work
➢ Human relations movement (emphasizes the
➢ Expanding a focus on human resources
importance of social factors in influencing work
performance – the work morale – considered to ➢ Increasing diversity and globalization of the
be creating a harmonious work environment workforce
with good interpersonal relationships among co-
workers and also with the heads of offices ➢ Increasing relevance of I/O psychology in
should be a productive work environment policy and practice
particularly when the work itself is
boring/monotonous)
DOWNSIZING DILEMMA
Important Events in I/O Psychology during
WWII
1. Tremendous need for the state-of-the-art
machinery, and the increasing
complexity of that machinery, was an
important impetus for human factors.
2. I/O psychologists were called on to
improve selection and placement of
military personnel, continuing the work
that psychologists had begun during
WWI.
FIRST KEY TREND: THE CHANGING
NATURE OF WORK

➢ ORGANIZATIONAL DOWNSIZING

FOURTH KEY TREND: INCREASING

RELEVANCE OF I/O PSYCHOLOGY IN
POLICY AND PRACTICE
• WORKPLACE AND SOCIAL ISSUES AND
QUESTIONS THAT SHOULD BE
➢ OUTSOURCING ADDRESSED BY I/O PSYCHOLOGY IN THE
FUTURE
1. Selecting and developing better organizational
leaders – including leaders who are ethical and
socially responsible.
2. Improving the lot of workers through fair
compensation, flexible work policies and
reducing discrimination in the workplace.
3. Leveraging workforce diversity and
globalization in optimal ways.
SECOND KEY TREND: EXPANDING A
FOCUS ON HUMAN RESOURCES 4. Improving performance through optimal
management and development of talent.
5. Helping organization to embrace positive
change and be more innovative.

• Talent management
• Compensation programs and “family
friendly” policies
THIRD KEY TREND: INCREASING
DIVERSITY AND GLOBALIZATION OF THE
WORKFORCE