PS10C Introduction to IO Psychology

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Lecturer Sophia S. Morgan E-mail
sophia.morgan_at_uwimona.edu.jm
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Overview of Topic Areas

• Section I - Introduction
• What is Psychology (I.1)
• What is Industrial/Organizational Psychology
  (I.2)
• Research Issues and Approaches in I/O Psychology
• Characteristics of the Organization
• The Caribbean (Jamaican) Organization

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Lecture Outline

• Why is research important to the I/O
  Psychologist?
• The Research Process
• Research Designs
• Measuring Variables
• Research Methods Individuals, Groups, and
  Organisations
• Characteristics of the organization
• The Caribbean (Jamaican) Organization

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Importance of Research to the I/O Psychologist

• GOAL OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
• - Describe, explain, predict situations/ human
  behaviour
• - Solve problems/challenges
• - Improve/Enhance work behaviour
• (alter/change or control behaviours)

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The Research Process

• .

Formulation of the problem
Generation of hypothesis
Choosing an experimental design
Collection of data
Statistical analysis of data
Interpretation of results and drawing
of conclusions
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The Research Process

• Formulation of the Problem or Issue
• - Prior Research
• - Existing problem in the workplace
• - Researcher's interest

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The Research Process

• Generation of hypothesis
• - What does the researcher intend to measure?
  (Variables)
• - Statement (s) of relationship (hypothesis
• - Development of theories or models

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The Research Process

• The Research Design
• - The research should consider important factor
  of the research setting in deciding which design
  is best.

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The Research Process

• Collection of Data
• - Sampling methods
• - (Data collection methods)

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The Research Process

• Analysis of Research Data
• - Quantitative Analysis Techniques
• - Qualitative Analysis Techniques

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The Research Process

• Interpretation of Research Results
• - The meaning of the findings is explored
• - Conclusions are drawn
• - Limitations are identified

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Some Issues in the Research Process

• Objectivity
• External Validity
• Reliability
• Confidentiality
• Ethical Considerations

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Research Designs

• Experimental (laboratory Field)
• - Independent variables dependent variables
  extraneous variables
• - Treatment group control group

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Research Designs

• Correlational (Observational)
• - Examines relationships among variables as
  they occur naturally
• - No manipulation of the variables
• - Does not determine cause-and-effect (causal
  statements are made however)

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Research Designs

• Meta Analysis
• - Drawing conclusions about the relationship
  between variables from the examination of a
  number of research studies
• Case study
• - Observational study involving a single
  activity, event, organisation, or behavioural
  assessment

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Measuring Variables

• Operationalisation of Variables
• Observational Techniques
• - Obtrusive
• - Unobtrusive
• Self Report Techniques
• - Surveys
• - Interviews

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Research Methods Individuals, Groups, and
Organisations

• Individuals
• Measurement of Attitude, Aptitude, Personality
  etc
• Situations in which research on individuals may
  be undertaken include
• - Screening and selection
• - Promotion

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Research Methods Individuals, Groups, and
Organisations

• Groups
• - Self Report (Sociometry Moreno 1934)
• - Observations Interaction Processes Analysis
  (IPA Bales)

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Research Methods Individuals, Groups, and
Organisations

• Organisations
• Action Research/Participatory Action Research
• - Strategic Planning
• - Team Building
• - Process Consultation
• - Management by Objectives (MBO)

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The Organization

• Characteristics of the organization
• The Caribbean (Jamaican) Organization
• Research Issues and Approaches in I/O. Psychology

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Characteristics of the Organization

• Structure
• Process
• Culture
• Boundaries

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Characteristics of the Organization

• Structure
• Traditional vs Non Traditional
• Chain of Command Span of Control
• (Status Power)
• Decentralized vs centralized
• Functional vs Divisional

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Characteristics of the Organization

• Process
• Leadership
• Decision Making
• Conflict Management
• Goals and tasks

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Characteristics of the Organization

• Culture the glue that binds the organization
• Artifacts
• Shared Vision
• Shared Assumption
• (Edgar Schein)

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Characteristics of the Organization

• Boundaries Clear Definition of parameters
• Strategies
• Vision
• Core Business
• Membership

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The Caribbean (Jamaican) Organization

• Lindos Plantation Model
• The sugar plantation is the organizational model
  that defines Caribbean Organizations
• Two other models, Colonial Administration the
  Family Firm are also prominent

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The Caribbean (Jamaican) Organization

• Nunes Draper - Classification of Caribbean
  Business Organizations
• Branch Bureaucracy
• Margin Gatherer
• Public Administration
• Indigenous Firm

Civil Service
Quasi-Public Institutions
Large Corporations
Small Enterprises
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The Caribbean (Jamaican) Organization

• Nunes Draper - Classification of Caribbean
  Business Organizations
• This taxonomy involves four broad categories
• Branch Bureaucracy Large-scale subsidaries of
  multinational corporations based in the region
• Margin Gatherer Established commercial sector
  which has its roots in the trading activity.
  This is important in dependent economies.

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The Caribbean (Jamaican) Organization

• The Taxonomy Contd
• 3. Public Administration All bureaux that are
  accountable to government
• Civil Service Organisations that perform the
  customary functions of government organisation
• Quasi-Autonomous Agencies that provide
  developmental services, are indirectly
  accountable to the political system, have
  technical rather than political leadership
• 4. Indigenous Firm Business entities owned and
  controlled locally
• a. Large Organisations the increasing number
  of business organisations engaged in
  construction, manufacture, services etc
• b. Small Enterprise The range of business
  activities from one man operation up to those
  which engage in as many as twenty persons

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The Caribbean (Jamaican) Organization

• Nunes and Draper used five criteria to establish
  the classification. These are
• Ownership and Control
• Prevailing Ethos
• Clientele
• Type of Response Mechanisms
• Sensitivity to Local Environment

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The Caribbean (Jamaican) Organization

• Some Issues for Consideration
• Leadership - Management Style (Plantation
  Management Model)
• Productivity Motivation (Why Workers Wont Work)
• Education and Training - Quality of Jamaican
  Worker Trainability
• Trade Union Role vs Management Role