Introduction to Industrial-Organizational Psychology

In this course, you’ll learn what I-O psychology is, what I-O psychologists do and where work, and some of the field’s major areas of research and practice.

Industrial-Organization (I-0) psychology is one of the fastest-growing fields in science. It’s also one of the least well-understood. Industrial organizational psychology is the branch of psychology that applies psychological theories and principles to organizations. Often referred to as Industrial-Organization (I-0) psychology, this field focuses on increasing workplace productivity and related issues such as the physical and mental wellbeing of employees. Industrial organizational psychologists perform a wide variety of tasks, including studying worker attitudes and behavior, evaluating companies, and conducting leadership training. The overall goal of this field is to study and understand human behavior in the workplace.

The two major sides of Industrial-Organizational Psychology are:

The Industrial side, which involves looking at how to best match individuals to specific job roles. This segment of I-O psychology is also sometimes referred to as personnel psychology.

The organizational side of psychology is more focused on understanding how organizations affect individual behavior. Organizational structures, social norms, management styles, and role expectations are all factors that can influence how people behave within an organization.

Major Topics in Industrial Organizational Psychology:

• Training and development

• Employee Selection

• Ergonomics

• Performance Management

• Work Life

• Organizational Development