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PSYCH 281 Introduction to Industrial-Organizational Psychology (3 credits): Effective Date: SP2007. Personnel selection, training, accident prevention, morale, and organizational behavior. Prerequisite: PSYCH 100
Overview
This course will introduce methods, practice, research, and theories of Industrial and Organizational (or I/O) Psychology. I/O psychology is a subfield of psychology concerned with various aspects of people in the workplace, including employee productivity and well-being. The "Industrial" part deals with human resource functions such as analyzing jobs, appraising employee performance, selecting, placing, and training employees. The "Organizational" part is concerned with the social and psychological aspects of work, including employee attitudes, behavior, emotions, health, motivation, leadership, etc. Both real-world applications and research will be emphasized throughout the course. While the course is mostly lecture format, student discussion and participation is strongly encouraged and will be solicited. If possible, guest lecturers may attend to discuss specific topics of expertise.
All the readings for the course are available online. This course was developed this way to bring you up-to-date information conveniently and inexpensively. Due to the dynamic nature of the Internet, however, there will be times when the URL addresses to readings change. If you ever have difficulty opening a reading for a particular lesson using the URL provided, contact the instructor.
Objectives
On completion of this course you will be able:
- To understand what it means to be an I/O psychologist.
- To develop an awareness of the history and major perspectives underlying and driving the field of Industrial and Organizational (I/O) Psychology.
- To develop an understanding of how theory and research in I/O psychology is applied in work settings.
- To develop some critical thinking skills; to be able to think critically about research.
- To develop an understanding for the potential I/O psychology has for society and organizations now and in the future.
Materials
There are no materials that need to be purchased for this course.
Many of the University Libraries resources can be utilized from a distance. Through the Libraries website, you can
- access magazine, journal, and newspaper articles online using library databases;
- borrow materials and have them delivered to your doorstep—or even your desktop;
- get research help via email, chat, or phone using the Ask a Librarian service; and
- much more.
You must have an active Penn State Access Account to take full advantage of the Libraries' resources and service. The Off-Campus Users page has additional information about these free services.
Technical Specifications
For this course we recommend the minimum World Campus technical requirements listed below:| Operating System | Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8*; Mac OS X 10.5 or higher *Windows 8 support excludes the tablet only RT version |
|---|---|
| Processor | 2 GHz or higher |
| Memory | 1 GB of RAM |
| Hard Drive Space | 20 GB free disk space |
| Browser | We recommend the latest ANGEL-supported version of Firefox or
Internet Explorer. To determine if your browser fits this criterion,
and for advice on downloading a supported version,
please refer to the following ITS knowledge base article: Supported Browsers and Recommended Computers.
Note: Cookies, Java, and JavaScript must be enabled. Pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. Due to nonstandard handling of CSS, JavaScript and caching, older versions of Internet Explorer (such as IE 6 or earlier) do not work with our courses. |
| Plug-ins | Adobe Reader [Download from Adobe]
Flash Player (v7.0 or later) [Download from Adobe] |
| Additional Software | Microsoft Office (2007 or later) |
| Internet Connection | Broadband (cable or DSL) connection required |
| Printer | Access to graphics-capable printer |
| DVD-ROM | Required |
| Sound Card, Microphone, and Speakers | Required |
| Monitor | Capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
If you need technical assistance at any point during the course, please contact the Service Desk.
For registration, advising, disability services, help with materials, exams, general problem solving, visit World Campus Student Services!
Course Requirements and Grading
Grades will be established on the basis of several factors:
1. Lesson Activities = 63% of your total course grade
The purpose of the lesson activities is twofold: (1) To encourage you to keep pace with the course and (2) to allow the instructor to evaluate how well you are absorbing and applying the knowledge from the course.
Lesson activities may take many forms. For instance, you may be asked to interview someone you know in a leadership position then write a reflection on what you have learned. Detailed instructions will accompany each activity.
In some cases, you'll be asked to gather information off-line before completing the on-line portion, therefore you should make a habit of opening the lesson assignment to check on the activity early in the time you've planned for each lesson.
You should read all the lesson material and readings each week before completing the activity for that lesson. In some cases, you will be expected to reference the readings or lesson as part of the activity.
The time and effort needed to complete the activities will vary. In general, you might expect to spend 1 or 2 hours per lesson (this includes preparation time, such as time you might take to interview others before reporting). This does NOT include time spent reading the lesson material and additional readings.
Assignments typically contain 2 or more parts (e.g., 2 or more discussion questions). In these cases, the total points for that assignment are likely to be broken up between the parts. Obtaining all points for the assignment, then, requires that you complete all parts to the best of your ability. Be sure to contact your instructor if you do not receive an e-mail or other correspondence with more specific instructions/ expectations for completing assignments in the first week of the course.
2. Final Project: “I/O in the Wild” = 22%
The final project reflects a paper. After you have submitted your assignment for Lesson 2, you will be assigned a topic (either recruitment, selection, appraisal, or training) by the instructor for which you will develop a report. Instructions for how to complete this project appear in the "Start Here" folder under "Lessons" and in the "Lesson 15" folder under lessons. It is important to start early on this project and not leave it till the last minute.
3. Quizzes = 15%
There is a quiz for each lesson on the syllabus. You are expected to complete all readings and to study before opening the quiz, so be prepared before you do so.
Once you open the quiz, you will have 30 minutes to complete it. You will not be able to open the quiz, close it, and open it again so as to allow you to print it off or examine the quiz questions before reading your lesson or studying. You will also not have enough time to look up the answers in the lesson material or readings while completing the quiz.
The quizzes are not cumulative, so you will only have to study the material for that week’s unit each week.
You can take the quiz any time, however, you will not be able to open lesson material for the following unit until the quiz from the previous unit is completed.
You must complete all quizzes.
Quizzes take the place of exams used in most resident or face-to-face courses. Since no one is able to proctor the exam, the quizzes will be worth a smaller percentage of your grade than in most face-to-face settings. The weekly activities, in comparison, will generally take more time and effort. Thus, they are worth a larger percentage of your grade.
Grading Scale
Percentage Of Total Points |
Letter Grade |
93 – 100% |
A |
90 – 92% |
A- |
87 – 89% |
B+ |
83 – 87% |
B |
80 – 82% |
B- |
75 – 79% |
C+ |
70 – 74% |
C |
60 – 69% |
D |
below 60% |
F |
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies. If, for reasons beyond the student's control, a student is prevented from completing a course within the prescribed time, the grade in that course may be deferred with the concurrence of the instructor. The symbol DF appears on the student's transcript until the course has been completed. Non-emergency permission for filing a deferred grade must be requested by the student before the beginning of the final examination period. In an emergency situation, an instructor can approve a deferred grade after the final exam period has started. Under emergency conditions during which the instructor is unavailable, authorization is required from one of the following: the dean of the college in which the candidate is enrolled; the executive director of the Division of Undergraduate Studies if the student is enrolled in that division or is a provisional student; or the campus chancellor of the student's associated Penn State campus.
For additional information please refer to the Deferring a Grade page.
Late Submission of Assignments
As this course is on a defined schedule, you are expected to maintain timely progress through the course. Assignments for each lesson are to be completed by the end of each week. Failure to submit your assignment by this time will result in points removed (10 per day) from the total possible score you may receive for that assignment. If you are unable to meet the deadline on a particular week due to an emergency, you should contact the instructor prior to the end of the week for the possibility of extending the deadline for that particular assignment. Decisions about extensions will be made at the discretion of the instructor on an individual basis.
Course Schedule
| Unit / Lesson | Activity |
|---|---|
| Lesson 01: Getting Started |
|
| Lesson 02: Introduction and History of I/O Psychology |
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| Lesson 03: Scientific Research |
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| Lesson 04: Job Analysis |
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| Lesson 05: Criterion Measurement and Development |
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| Lesson 06: Predictors |
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| Lesson 07: Recruitment and Selection |
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| Lesson 08: Performance Appraisal |
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| Lesson 09: Socialization and Training |
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| Lesson 10: Motivation |
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| Lesson 11: Job Attitudes |
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| Lesson 12: Leadership |
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| Lesson 13: Groups and Teams |
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| Lesson 14: Organizational Theory and Development |
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| Lesson 15: Stress and Strain at Work |
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| Lesson 16: Final Assignment | Complete and submit your Final Paper. |
Formal instruction will end on the last day of class. Provided that you have an active Penn State Access Account user ID and password, you will continue to be able to access the course materials for one year, starting from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered (with the exception of library reserves and other external resources that may have a shorter archival period). After one year, you might be able to access the course based on the policies of the program or department offering the course material, up to a maximum of three years from the end date of the academic semester in which the course was offered. For more information, please review the University Course Archival Policy.
Note: If you are planning to graduate this semester, please communicate your intent to graduate to your instructor. This will alert your instructor to the need to submit your final grade in time to meet the published graduation deadlines. For more information about graduation policies and deadlines, please refer to Graduation at the Chaiken Center for Student Success.Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity , an academic integrity violation is “an intentional, unintentional, or attempted violation of course or assessment policies to gain an academic advantage or to advantage or disadvantage another student academically.” Unless your instructor tells you otherwise, you must complete all course work entirely on your own, using only sources that have been permitted by your instructor, and you may not assist other students with papers, quizzes, exams, or other assessments. If your instructor allows you to use ideas, images, or word phrases created by another person (e.g., from Course Hero or Chegg) or by generative technology, such as ChatGPT, you must identify their source. You may not submit false or fabricated information, use the same academic work for credit in multiple courses, or share instructional content. Students with questions about academic integrity should ask their instructor before submitting work.
Students facing allegations of academic misconduct may not drop/withdraw from the affected course unless they are cleared of wrongdoing (see G-9: Academic Integrity ). Attempted drops will be prevented or reversed, and students will be expected to complete course work and meet course deadlines. Students who are found responsible for academic integrity violations face academic outcomes, which can be severe, and put themselves at jeopardy for other outcomes which may include ineligibility for Dean’s List, pass/fail elections, and grade forgiveness. Students may also face consequences from their home/major program and/or The Schreyer Honors College.
How Academic Integrity Violations Are Handled
World Campus students are expected to act with civility and
personal integrity; respect other students' dignity, rights, and
property; and help create and maintain an environment in which all
can succeed through the fruits of their own efforts. An environment
of academic integrity is requisite to respect for oneself and
others, as well as a civil community.
In cases where academic integrity is questioned, the Policy on Academic Integrity indicates that procedure requires an instructor to inform the student of the allegation. Procedures allow a student to accept or contest a charge. If a student chooses to contest a charge, the case will then be managed by the respective college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. If that committee recommends an administrative sanction (Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, Expulsion), the claim will be referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
All Penn State colleges abide by this Penn State policy, but review procedures may vary by college when academic dishonesty is suspected. Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy and college review procedures is included in the information that students receive upon enrolling in a course. To obtain that information in advance of enrolling in a course, please contact us by going to the Contacts & Help page .
Accommodating Disabilities
Additional Policies
For information about additional policies regarding Penn State Access Accounts; credit by examination; course tuition, fees, and refund schedules; and drops and withdrawals, please see the World Campus Student Center website.
Disclaimer: Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change, and you will be responsible for abiding by any such changes. Your instructor will notify you of any changes.