Industrial Organization (I-O) Psychology

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NOTE: Student here are the answers to your questions, be sure you include ethical considerations in your paper when you discuss the role of psychologists. I have added what I consider to be primary ethical concerns; you should also consider the issue of diversity. Good luck with your paper!

(1) What is I/O psychology?
This branch of Psychology can be dated to the 1930. Under the threat of World Wars I and II. Industrial/organizational psychology focused on studying people within organizations (McMillan, Stevens, Kelloway, 2009). The development of Industrial /Organization psychology, or I-O emphasized the influence of the military during these World Wars that was the beginning of I'-O psychology in academia (Katzell & Austin, 1992 as cited in McMillan et al, 2009). The discipline gained further prominence within the emergence of social psychology theories such as that of Kurt Lewin. I-O psychology gained prominence after the World War II influenced by the social psychology of Kurt Lewin, whose field force analyses provided a framework for looking at factors in social situations.

Several definitions have emerged to describe I-O Psychology. One definition is the study of the structure of an organization including the interaction of employees, who are focused on ways to improve the organization. Other definitions are provided to conceptualize I/O not as an applied psychology, but as a sub-branch of psychology and may be defined "As the science of behavior at work", more particular, 'the science of behavior at work in the environment of the modern industrial concern" (Hearnshaw, 1970). Applied science involves those branches of psychology that utilizes psychological principles to solve problems. According to Hearnshaw, I-O psychology is a unity focused on promoting efficiency and contentment in occupational life by psychological means.
Thus, he critiques the definition of I-O viewed within the framework of an applied science (e.g., Munsterberg, 1913; Myers, 1926 as cited in Hearnshaw, 1970). He further contends that I-O is a theoretical science in which the primary aim is to find the ideal human conditions to occupational life within the context of understanding human behavior at work. . According to Casio, the "goal of I-O psychology is to understand and optimize the effectiveness, health, and well-being of both individuals and the organizations" (pp. 1062-1063).

(2) How are I/O psychologists trained?
I-O psychologists receive required training as psychologists in the field of psychology. In addition, they must have specialized knowledge in the behavioral sciences that include having an in-depth knowledge within the following areas:
• Organizational ...