Industrial/Organizational Psychology
For the Psychology 301 Industrial/Organizational Psychology assignment, you will write and submit a research paper that analyzes an organization and the various aspects of organizational psychology as studied throughout the course. You must select a publicly traded organization to be the foundation for this research paper. You will apply knowledge acquired in the course to explore and analyze the role organizational psychology plays in the chosen organization. The research paper should be 1,200 to 1,500 words in length, follow APA formatting style, and include the following six sections.
Research Paper Sections
- Field of Industrial/Organizational Psychology: What is industrial/organizational psychology?
- Job Analysis and Evaluation Methods: What type(s) of job analysis and evaluation methods are employed within the chosen organization?
- Employee Selection: Recruiting and Interviewing: What methods and practices does the organization employ in recruiting potential employees? What interviewing techniques does the organization use in selection of new hires?
- Performance Management and Employee Evaluation: How does the organization conduct employee evaluations and manage performance?
- Employee Training and Development: What kinds of employee training and/or development opportunities does the organization offer?
- Employee Motivation and Satisfaction: What methods and practices does the organization employ to increase employee motivation and job satisfaction?
Using Sources
Sample Answer
nderstanding the Research Goal
I’m starting a research project focused on Industrial/Organizational Psychology. The goal is to analyze a publicly traded organization and explore how I/O psychology principles are applied within it. I need to cover six key areas: the definition of I/O psychology, job analysis and evaluation methods, employee selection (recruiting and interviewing), performance management and employee evaluation, employee training and development, and employee motivation and satisfaction.
My Research Approach
My plan is to first establish a foundational understanding of I/O psychology by researching its core principles and applications. Concurrently, I’ll identify publicly traded organizations known for strong HR practices or innovative workplace cultures, as these are more likely to have accessible information. Once an organization is selected, I’ll conduct an initial overview to ensure sufficient public data exists for all required sections. Following this, I’ll delve deeper into the organization’s specific practices for each of the six areas, prioritizing official company reports, business news, and HR industry publications.