Chapter 1

Overview and Historical

Background of I-O
Psychology

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 Learning Objectives
• Explain how I-O psychology relates to the
profession of psychology as a whole.
• Compare and contrast I-O psychology with
similar fields in psychology and business.
• Describe the history of I-O psychology,
including major people, events, and eras.
• Describe the scientist-practitioner model and
its importance to I-O psychology.
• Discuss how and why psychologists are
licensed.

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 Industrial-Organizational
Psychology
• An area of scientific study and professional
practice that addresses psychological
concepts and principles in the work world.

– Two sides: Science and Practice

– Increasing level of recognition of I-O

psychology in the general public

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 I-O Psychology vs. Similar
Disciplines
• I-O psychology as an applied psychology

• Overlaps and distinctions with other fields

• Micro vs. macro view

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 The History of I-O Psychology
• The Early Years (1900-1916)
– Bryan and “real skills” (1904)
– Industrial engineers: improve efficiency
– Time and motion studies
– Founding Figures
• Walter Dill Scott
• Frederick W. Taylor
• Lillian Moller Gilbreth
• Hugo Münsterberg

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 The History of I-O Psychology
• World War I (1917-1918)
– Robert Yerkes and the Army Alpha and Army
Beta tests to screen recruits
– Journal of Applied Psychology

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 The History of I-O Psychology
• Between the Wars (1919-1940)
– Applied psychology emerged as a discipline
– Psychological research bureaus came into full
bloom
• Walter Bingham at Carnegie Institute of Technology
• James Cattell founded the Psychological Corporation
– Hawthorne-Western Electric Studies/Harvard
University Joint Venture
• Profound influence of Hawthorne studies on I-O
psychology
• Revealed the complexity of human behavior

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 The History of I-O Psychology
• World War II (1941-1945)
– Selection and Placement tests
– Group ability testing (AGCT)
– Situational stress tests (OSS)
– Early situational tests: select, train pilots;
measure attitudes, morale
– Development of more employment tests in
industry

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 The History of I-O Psychology
• Toward Specialization (1946-1963)
– Development of college and graduate
programs in I-O psychology
– Creation of Division 14 of APA (1946)
– Sub-specialties crystallized

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 The History of I-O Psychology
• Government Intervention (1964-1993)
– Government scrutiny emerged as a second
“authority”
• Civil Rights Act (Title VII) – 1964
• Regulation of testing, selection, and other employment
decisions
• Uniform Employment Guidelines
• Americans with Disabilities Act – 1990
• Civil Rights Act – 1991
• Family and Medical Leave Act - 1993
– I-O psychologists developed test (ASVAB)
currently used for military selection

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 The History of I-O Psychology
• The Information Age (1994-2018)
– Internet accelerates change (information technology)
– Explosive growth in Internet websites
– Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter (social media)
– Google, eBay, Amazon, Alibaba (modern information-
based companies)
– Advent of e-business and the virtual workplace
– Speed of delivery
– The concept of “job” begins to erode
– Telecommuting and virtual teams mean work is no
longer a physical place

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 The History of I-O Psychology
• The Experience Age (2019-Present)
– Focus on seeking new experiences and
connecting with others
– The impact of COVID-19

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 The Science and Practice of I-O
Psychology
• Scientist-Practitioner Model
– A model or framework for education in an
academic discipline based on understanding
the scientific principles and findings
evidenced in the discipline and how they
provide the basis for the professional practice.
• Scientist-Practitioner gap
• Professional Affiliations
– SIOP

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What do you think?

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 Licensing of I-O Psychologists
• Psychology:
– Regulates its own membership
– Is regulated by law in every state
– Controversy about licensing of I-O
psychologists
– Not in clinical practice
– Different mandate than health care providers

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 The Mandate of I-O Psychology
• Increase the fit between workforce and
workplace during rapid change

• Growing field making a true difference in

the world

• I-O psychology can have a tremendous

impact on human welfare

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