The Capstone Project

Industrial-Organizational Psychology

Cassandra Howery

Professional Careers and Education in Psychology

American Public University

July 5th, 2015

Introduction

The workplace at times can be a frustrating place for employees. This has compelled organizations to seek services of industrial and organizational psychologist to smoothen the operations of a firm. Industrial and organizational psychology mostly referred to as I/O psychology deals with organizations, workplace environment, and their employees. Industrial psychologists concentrate on the relationship between employees and their workplace. This involves employee training, job performance measurement, employee hiring systems, and job analysis (Kuther& Morgan, 2013).

The types of work professionals in specialty areas within the larger field of psychology do

It is important to note that there are various forms of industrial physiologists. For example, recruitment and selection psychologists analyze jobs, develop recruits, develop selection procedures and validate tests.Training and development psychologists, on the other hand, formulate and implement training programs, evaluate the effectiveness of a training program and coach employees. There are also performance measurement psychologists who evaluate the effectiveness of an organization, develop criteria, and determine the economic utility of a given performance. Other psychologists include motivation and reward psychologists, organizational development psychologist who analyze a firm’s structure, and consumer behavior psychologists who assess consumer preference(Kuther& Morgan, 2013).

The type and level of education one must achieve to work in those specialty areas

Anyone aspiring to be an industrial psychologist must possess a master's degree. Master's programs require at least two years of postsecondary study. The master’s program includes topics such as research methods, psychology statistics, employee selection techniques, career coaching and team coaching. However, before going for a master’s program, individual ought to have a bachelor’s degree in psychology(Kuther& Morgan, 2013).

A description of work settings and average incomes one can expect in careers within the specialty areas.

Industrial and organizational psychologists can be described in three forms; scientists who develop principles of groups, organizations and individual behavior through research. Secondly, they are consultants who derive scientific knowledge and use it to solve various problems, and lastly as teachers who train learners in research as well as application of Industrial-Organizational Psychology(Kuther& Morgan, 2013).

The salary for I/O psychologists depends on their experience and the organizations they are working for. However, as per a survey carried out by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology in 2012, the starting salary for any I/O specialist in public sector who had a master’s degree was averaged at $65,000 per year whereas those with a doctoral degree was averaged at $81,000. Their counterparts in the private sector earned around $100,000.

Whether after researching the areas you find them to be career possibilities you are interested in or careers that don’t capture your interest and why

A career as a consumer behavior psychologist looks more interesting. This is because one can study the relationship between the producer and consumer of goods and services. This includes examining features of a product that influence a customer to buy it, brand preferences, buying habits and patterns as well as the study of the economic expectations of people. On the other hand, a career as career development psychologist was not appealing. This is because most individuals already know what they want to be and have already made plans for their careers(Kuther& Morgan, 2013).

A description of the most interesting thing not previously known that you learned about the specialty areas

The most interesting thing I learnt was how I/O psychologists utilize quantitative research as well as evaluation methods to develop effective practices for a firm. Their research method is involved observing how employees work in various environments, study issues surrounding their working environment and come up with mechanisms of enhancing productivity, and increase workplace quality(Kuther& Morgan, 2013).

A description of everyday and real-world human experience related to two podcasts you select to listen to on the specialty web pages provided

Careful analysis ofI/O psychologists revealed that their day to day lives are characterized by increasing productivity at workplace, increasing the quality workplace to make workers comfortable, to guide and counsel employees on various matters, screening procedures for recruiting employees, and lastly develop firm policies that benefit everyone. Their work also involves dealing with business owners, supervisors, CEOs and employees on a daily basis to figure out ways of enhancing the operation of a firm(Kuther& Morgan, 2013).

A description of a “Hot Topic that fits with what you know about each specialty area after researching it and how the two are related

Job employment is related to recruitment and selection psychologists. This is because the specialists are able to develop criteria for selecting qualified employees. Career development is linked to training and development psychologists because they develop methods of enhancing employee’s careers. Lastly, job promotion aligned to motivation and reward psychologists because they develop criteria for promoting employees (Kuther& Morgan, 2013).

References

Kuther, T. L., & Morgan, R. D. (2013).Careers in Psychology: Opportunities in a changing world.