[printer-friendly version]
The information contained on this page is designed to give students a representative example of material covered in the course. Any information related to course assignments, dates, or course materials is illustrative only. For a definitive list of materials, please check the online catalog 3-4 weeks before the course start date.
PSYCH 482 Selection and Assessment in Organizations (3 credits) Background in personnel testing, performance measurement, selection strategies, with emphasis on validity and measurement reliability.
Overview
This course emphasizes the scientist-practitioner approach to assessment and its role in selection, promotion, measurement of training effectiveness, performance management and other research and administrative actions used in a variety of organizations. We will explore how this model can be applied to a wide range of problems in “real world” work/organizational settings.
Course Objectives
By the time you complete this course, you should have learned about the following:
- methods by which Industrial Psychologists can diagnose organizational problems, evaluate potential solutions, and implement programs to facilitate organizational change and success
- the major activities of an Industrial Psychologist including: job analysis; selection/promotion system development including specific legal implications; interviews, tests and other selection tools; training and development; and performance appraisal and management
- research across a variety of application and organizational settings
- the legal underpinnings of the work of I/O Psychologists
Required Course Materials
Most World Campus courses require that students purchase materials (e.g., textbooks, specific software, etc.). To learn about how to order materials, please see the Course Materials page. You should check LionPATH approximately 3–4 weeks before the course begins for a list of required materials.
Library Resources
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
| 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 Schedule
|
Week |
Unit / Lesson |
Activity |
|---|---|---|
|
Week 1 |
Chapter 1 Introduction to Selection |
Quiz 1 (10 pts) Activity 1 (40 pts) |
|
Week 2 |
Chapter 2 The Nature of Work |
Quiz 2 (10 pts) Activity 2 (40 pts) Discussion 1 (25 pts) |
|
Week 3 |
Chapter 3 Job Analysis |
Quiz 3 (10 pts) Activity 3 (40 pts) Discussion 2 (25 pts) |
|
Week 4 |
Chapter 4 Compensation |
Quiz 4 (10 pts) Activity 4 (40 pts) Discussion 3 (25 pts) |
|
Week 5 |
Chapter 5 Recruitment |
Quiz 5 (10 pts) Activity 5 (40 pts) |
|
Week 6 |
Chapter 6 Fair Employment Law |
Quiz 6 (10 pts) Activity 6 (40 pts) Discussion 4 (25 pts) |
|
Week 7 |
Chapter 7 Selection Measurement |
Quiz 7 (10 pts) Activity 7 (40 pts) Discussion 5 (25 pts) |
|
Week 8 |
Chapter 8 Tests of Ability and Knowledge |
Quiz 8 (10 pts) Activity 8 (40 pts) Discussion 6 (25 pts) |
|
Week 9 |
Chapter 9 Tests of Personality and Character |
Quiz 9 (10 pts) Activity 9 (40 pts) |
|
Week 10 |
Chapter 10 Applications/History Assessment |
Quiz 10 (10 pts) Activity 10 (40 pts) Discussion 7 (25 pts) |
|
Week 11 |
Chapter 11 Interviews |
Quiz 8 (10 pts) Activity 8 (40 pts) Discussion 6 (25 pts) |
|
Week 12 |
Chapter 12 Assessment Centers |
Quiz 12 (10 pts) Activity 12 (40 pts) |
|
Week 13 |
Chapter 13 The Nature of Performance Chapter 14 Performance Appraisal Methods |
Quiz 13 (10 pts) Activity 13 (40 pts) Discussion 9 (25 pts) |
|
Week 14 |
Chapter 15 Uses of Performance Appraisal |
Quiz 14 (10 pts) Activity 14 (40 pts) |
|
Week 15 |
Chapter 16 Employee Training |
Quiz 15 (10 pts) Activity 15 (40 pts) Discussion 10 (25 pts) |
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.
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.
Grading
Grades will be established on the basis of several factors:
- Weekly Activities = approximately 825 points or approximately 85% of your total course grade.
Weekly activities are due on SUNDAY by 12 a.m. (midnight) Eastern Time Zone each week.
Late work - assignment(s) submitted within 48 hours after the assignment deadline (i.e., midnight every Sunday) will be accepted, but will receive a 2.5 point deduction for each day it is late (for a total of 5 points off through midnight Sunday).
Excessively late work - assignment(s) submitted after this 48 hour window (i.e., after midnight Tuesday of the week that it is due), will not be accepted and, accordingly, will receive a "0".
The purpose of weekly activities is twofold: (1) Encourage you to keep pace with the course and (2) allow the instructor to evaluate how well you are absorbing and applying the knowledge from the course.
Weekly activities may take many forms. For instance, you may be asked to interview someone you know in order to gain information on that individual’s job then enter what you have learned into a discussion forum for everyone in the class to read. Detailed instructions will accompany each activity. In general there are two types of weekly activities:
- Individual Activities – Individual activities usually involve short papers related to the topic of the week.
- Discussion Forums – Here you will post your comments about specific questions relating to the week’s lessons and respond to your peer’s comments. The discussion forums will be located under the ‘lesson’ tab.
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 to check on the weekly activity early (e.g., by Monday) each week.
You should read all the lesson material and readings each week before completing the on-line portion of the activity for that week. 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 each week (this includes preparation time, such as time you might take to interview others before reporting to a discussion group). This does NOT include time spent reading the lesson material and additional readings.
Your instructor will indicate deadlines for all weekly activities. The link or drop box for submitting your work will be closed immediately following each deadline. If you fail to submit anything, you will receive a zero score for the activity that week.
- Quizzes = approximately 150 points total or approximately 15% of your total grade.
Weekly quizzes are due on Sunday by 12 a.m. (midnight) Eastern Time Zone each week.
There is a quiz for each unit on the syllabus. You are expected to complete all reading and study before opening the quiz, so be prepared before you do so.
Once you open the quiz, you will have 10 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 also will 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 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, they 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
Please refer to the University Registrar's 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.
Academic Integrity
According to Penn State policy G-9: Academic Integrity (for undergraduate students in undergraduate courses) and policy GCAC-805 Academic Integrity (for graduate students and undergraduate students in graduate courses), 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 or GCAC-805 Academic Integrity as appropriate). 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, procedures allow a student to accept or contest/appeal the allegation. If a student chooses to contest/appeal the allegation, the case will then be managed by the respective school, college or campus Academic Integrity Committee. Review procedures may vary by college, campus, or school, but all follow the aforementioned policies.
All academic integrity violations are referred to the Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response, which may assign an educational intervention and/or apply a Formal Warning, Conduct Probation, Suspension, or Expulsion.
Information about Penn State's academic integrity policy 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
Penn State welcomes students with disabilities into the University’s educational programs. Every Penn State campus has an office for students with disabilities, including World Campus. The Disabilities and Accommodations section of the Chaiken Center for Student Success website provides World Campus students with information regarding how to request accommodations, documentation guidelines and eligibility, and appeals and complaints. For additional information, please visit the University's Student Disability Resources website.
In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, you must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation. If the documentation supports your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability services office will provide you with an accommodation letter. Please share this letter with your instructors and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. You must follow this process for every semester that you request accommodations.
Students with disabilities participating in internship, practicum, student teaching, or other experiential learning opportunities as part of their degree requirements may also be eligible for reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access and opportunity. These accommodations are determined through an interactive process involving the student, their University supervisor, and the site supervisor. Student Disability Resources can assist students with identifying potential barriers, facilitating accommodation requests, and coordinating with University supervisors to promote inclusive learning experiences.
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.
Need help with the course? You can always contact the instructor for extra instruction or help with course material. You are also encouraged to take advantage of other resources, such as the University Learning Resources Center (call 865-1841 for tutoring and learning skills) and the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (call 863-0395 to discuss any issues of a personal nature). If you have a documented disability that may interfere with your performance in the class, please let the instructor know of any accommodations that you may need to provide a suitable learning environment for you. If you are concerned that you may have a learning disability, call the Office for Disability Services for assessment (863-1807).
Complaints/ Grievances: If you have a complaint or concern, please feel free to discuss this with your instructor. If you should feel uncomfortable approaching the instructor, you can speak with your undergraduate advisor or one of the Department of Psychology Academic Advisors in the Bruce V. Moore Building.
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.