Industrial psychology is the branch of industrial-organizational psychology that studies job attributes, applicant characteristics, and methods for assessing job fit (e.g., through job analysis, candidate testing, and interviews).

Google

Industrial psychology focuses on the specifics of jobs and the individuals who might fill them. It involves analyzing job requirements, assessing applicant suitability through methods like testing and interviews, and determining the best fit. Furthermore, this field covers the integration of new hires through orientation and their continuous development via ongoing training. A critical aspect of industrial psychology is ensuring that hiring processes are fair and legally compliant to prevent bias. It also includes the research and application of performance appraisal systems.

Industrial Psychology

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Several influential early psychologists studied issues that are now categorized as industrial psychology. Key figures include:
- James Cattell (1860–1944)
- Hugo Münsterberg (1863–1916)
- Walter Dill Scott (1869–1955)
- Robert Yerkes (1876–1956)
- Lillian Gilbreth (1878–1972)
- Walter Bingham (1880–1952)
- Elton Mayo (1880–1949)

Influential Figures in Industrial Psychology

Focuses of industrial psychology include:
- Job analysis 
- Selecting employees
- Training
- Performance appraisal
- Protections in jobs

Focuses of Industrial Psychology

A one-on-one conversation in a professional setting, as depicted in Photograph A, can represent various scenarios studied in industrial psychology. This could be a job interview, where an individual's suitability for a role is assessed, or a performance evaluation, both of which are central concerns of this field.

Example of an Industrial Psychology Scenario

Typical job roles in the field of industrial psychology include:
- Personnel analyst
- Instructional designer
- Professor
- Research analyst

Types of Jobs in Industrial Psychology

A rapidly growing tech startup is experiencing high employee turnover within its sales department. The current hiring process involves a single, 30-minute unstructured conversation with the department head, who admits to hiring candidates they 'have a good feeling about.' Based on the principles of improving job-person fit and ensuring fair hiring practices, which of the following would be the most effective initial action to take?

An active area of research in industrial psychology involves examining the effectiveness of performance appraisal systems within particular organizations, as well as evaluating the effectiveness of training designed for the implementation of these appraisal systems.

Learn Before

Related