Main Content
Syllabus
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 recruitment, selection, promotion, and performance management in organizations. A large portion of this course will focus on using assessments, such as intelligence tests, personality assessments, and interviews, to identify who is likely to perform well on the job and who is currently performing well. This task may seem simple, but it requires us to use reliable and valid measures that operate within boundaries set by the law. Understanding this information is useful not only for students interested in careers in industrial and organizational psychology or human resources management, but also for anyone planning to enter the workforce.
Course Objectives
By the time you complete this course, you should have learned about the following:
- methods by which industrial psychologists conceptualize and measure job performance and use those measures to aid selection decisions and performance management procedures, such as appraisal and training evaluation;
- methods by which industrial psychologists predict job performance and use those assessments (often called predictors) to make hiring and other organizational decisions;
- research processes and outcomes that help inform the above points, as well as challenges to using research for organizational decisions;
- legal contexts and the underpinnings of work in the field, and
- introductions to practitioner skills, including writing a proposal and a technical report.
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.
This course requires that you access Penn State library materials specifically reserved for this course. You can access these materials by selecting Library Resources in your course navigation, or by accessing the Library E-Reserves Search and search for your instructor's last name.
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 | Canvas, Penn State's Learning Management System (LMS), supports most recent versions of Microsoft Windows and Apple Mac operating systems. To determine if your operating system is supported, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
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| Browser | Canvas supports the last two versions of every major browser release. It is highly recommended that you update to the newest version of whatever browser you are using. Note: Cookies must be enabled, and pop-up blockers should be configured to permit new windows from Penn State websites. |
| Additional Canvas Requirements | For a list of software, hardware, and computer settings specifically required by the Canvas LMS, please review Canvas' computer specifications. |
| Additional Software | All Penn State students have access to Microsoft Office 365, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. |
| Hardware | Monitor: Monitor capable of at least 1024 x 768 resolution |
| Mobile Device (optional) | The Canvas mobile app is available for versions of iOS and Android. To determine if your device is capable of using the Canvas Mobile App, please review the Canvas Mobile App Requirements. |
Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ)
During the semester you will receive information for completing the Student Education Experience Questionnaire (SEEQ). Your participation is an opportunity to provide anonymous feedback on your learning experience. Your feedback is important because it allows us to understand your experience in this course and make changes to improve the learning experiences of future students. Please monitor email and course communications for links and availability dates.
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!
Grading
Grades will be established on the basis of several factors discussed in more detail below.
Weekly Activities
Lesson activities will count for 465 points (about 46% of your total grade).
Lesson activities are due the last day of each lesson by 11:59 p.m. (ET). The purpose of these activities is to encourage you to keep pace with the course and 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 order to learn about that individual’s job and then enter what you have learned into a discussion 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 lesson.
- discussions: Discussions are interactive processes that allow you to comment on specific questions relating to the lesson and to respond to peers' comments in discussion threads. Discussions have two main parts: an original response to assignment questions and replies to peers (a discussion portion). To facilitate the discussion portion, you should interact with your classmates throughout the week.
Be aware that, in almost all cases, you’ll be asked to gather information offline before completing the online portion; therefore, you should make a habit of checking on the lesson activity early each week, along with reading any tips or feedback the instructor may provide via e-mail, discussion board, or announcement.
Also, be aware that some types of activities will have multiple parts with varying due dates. Your instructor will remind you of these details, but it is ultimately your responsibility to maintain pace with the course. Review the course schedule and make notes in your personal calendar to alert yourself to various due dates.
You should read all lesson material and additional readings each lesson before completing the online portion of the activity. You will be expected to reference the readings or lesson commentary as part of the activity.
The time and effort needed to complete the activities will vary. In general, you might expect to spend one or two hours on them each week (including preparation time, such as time you might take to interview others before posting to a discussion group). This estimate does not include time spent reading the lesson material and additional readings.
The course schedule will indicate deadlines for all lesson activities. If you fail to submit anything, you may receive a zero for the activity that lesson. (See the late policy.)
There are 13 individual activities in total throughout the semester. The first and last activity are required of all students; there are 11 additional assignments between Lessons 2 and 14. Your top ten scores for these assignments will count toward your final grade. In other words, you can drop your lowest activity score. This policy allows flexibility should life interfere with your ability to perform as well as you had hoped on one of the lesson activities. If you miss an activity without a legitimate excuse or planned extension, you will receive a zero for that activity. But, again, this will drop out at the end of the semester, assuming you complete all other assignments.
Group Project
The group project will count for 275 points (about 27% of your total grade).
Virtual teams are a reality in today’s world, and learning to cooperate on a team project is a vital skill for today’s workforce. We will both practice this skill together and use our experience as we learn more about performance management in teams.
The team project will be broken into several parts due throughout the semester, so be sure to review your course schedule carefully.
Note that a team rating process will accompany each group project. While the team will complete and turn in a single assignment, all individuals on the team will be required to complete a team assessment (worth five points) at three points throughout the semester as the team turns in a portion of the project (15 points total).
Additionally, you will earn up to 50 points for your participation and contribution to each portion of the team project, based on the feedback received from your teammates' ratings. Students who fail to participate or contribute to team projects could also lose points on the project itself if feedback suggests that they did not participate or contributed only minimally.
Quizzes
Quizzes will count for 260 points (about 28% of your total grade).
There is a quiz for each lesson in the schedule. Lesson quizzes are due the last day of each lesson by 11:59 p.m. (ET).
Quizzes take the place of the exams used in most resident or face-to-face courses. Since no one is able to proctor the exams, they will be worth a relatively small percentage of your grade. However, you should prepare each week as if the quiz were a miniature exam. As with an exam, you will
- complete the quiz in a single time period (i.e., you will not be able to open the quiz, close it, and open it again so as to print it or examine the questions before reading your lesson or studying),
- have a time limit (20 minutes), and
- need to rely on what you have learned from the readings. You will not have enough time to look up the answers in your notes or readings while completing the quiz. Therefore, you should read everything carefully, take notes, and review your material before opening the quiz.
There will be a total of 13 quizzes available throughout the semester, each worth 20 points.
When taking quizzes, follow all ethical and technical guidelines and be sure to have a reliable computer with a strong and reliable Internet connection. Failing to follow ethical and technical guidelines could result in forfeiture of your quiz score.
You will be able to review your quizzes two days after submission; the review period will last a total of three days.
Grading Scale
To calculate your grade at any point in the semester, add the total points you have earned and divide by the total points available. There are 1,000 points available by the end of the semester, so your final grade (Table 1) will be determined by dividing total points earned by 1000.
Table 1. Final Grading Scale
Late Policy
This is a semester-based course with deadlines. You are expected to complete work by the posted deadlines. Please check the course schedule for the dates and times that assignments and assessments are due. (Note that all times reflect North American eastern time.) Please contact your instructor to discuss legitimate and unavoidable situations that may cause lateness (such as illness, injury, or family emergency). If you know that you are going to miss a deadline, please contact your instructor in advance of that deadline to discuss an extension (or, if you are unable to contact the instructor before the deadline, as soon as you are able). Extension decisions will be made at the discretion of the instructor on a case-by-case basis. In the absence of a legitimate and unavoidable situation, late work will be accepted at the discretion of the instructor and will be penalized around five points (or roughly 10% of the total assignment points) for each day of lateness. Unless there is a legitimate and unavoidable situation that causes prolonged lateness, work more than one week late will not be accepted.
Please refer to the University Grading Policy for Undergraduate Courses for additional information about University grading policies.
Course Schedule
Note: All due dates reflect North American eastern time (ET).
| Lesson 2: | Job Performance: Concepts and Measurement |
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| Lesson 3: | Job Analysis |
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| Lesson 4 | Consulting Skills, Part I: Creating a Proposal and Introduction to Teams |
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| Lesson 5: | Recruitment |
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| Lesson 6: | Legal Issues in Selection |
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| Lesson 7: | Measurement Issues in Selection |
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| Lesson 8: | Ability and Job Knowledge Tests for Selection |
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| Lesson 9: | Personality Assessment |
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| Lesson 10: | Application Forms and Other Historical Data |
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| Lesson 11: | Selection Interview |
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| Lesson 12: | Simulations, Including Assessment Centers |
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| Lesson 13: | Consulting Skills, Part II: Writing a Technical Report |
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| Lesson 14: | Using Selection Data for Decision-Making |
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| Lesson 15: | Selection and Organizational Strategy |
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Notes about the On-line Administration of the Course
Each week, you are expected to check the ANGEL course page for lessons, activities, required readings, quizzes and announcements. You are expected to check the site for instructions to activities or discussion sessions by Monday of each week, so that they can be completed by the end of the week. If you complete your lesson, activities, and quiz early in the week, you should still check the course page for feedback or notes from the instructor later in the week.
Course Expectations and Other Notes:
Course announcements and pace: Although you will have some flexibility regarding when each week you read the lectures and course materials, you will be required to maintain pace with the course through the semester. You are also required to read the Course Announcements found on under the Resources tab in ANGEL for course announcements regularly. You are completely responsible for knowing announcements made, particularly with regards to changes in the course schedule and timing of activities and quizzes.
Reading Assignments: You are expected to read ALL of the required reading for a particular week before opening the activity or quiz for that week.
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.
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 .
Academic Honesty: It is fully expected that completion of quizzes and exercises represents only your efforts. If you are suspected of cheating, you will be asked to meet with the instructor. Cheating will result in a failing grade on the quiz or exercise and possibly the course.
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.
Additional Policies
Need help with the course? You can always contact the instructor for extra instruction or help with course material. 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 (1-814-863-1807).
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 World Campus undergraduate advisor.
Course Communication Tools
The purpose of course communication tools is to provide students with a quick method for contacting faculty, teaching assistants, and other students of the class, in regards to course related questions, comments, and concerns. Please note that, according to University policy AD95/AD96, course communication tools may not be used as a method for emailing unauthorized content including but not limited to: solicitation for businesses, advertisements, selling or distributing personal or class materials, transmitting offensive, obscene, or harassing materials, chain letters, news posts, or other forms of “spam” email. Doing so will be considered a violation of course and/or University policies, and might also violate the student code of conduct and the expectations expressed in the Penn State Principles. Resulting penalties might include the suspension or termination of system access, as well as disciplinary or academic sanctions. When appropriate, information about violators will be passed on to University Police Services. If you have any questions in regards to whether or not a particular email you wish to send would violate University policies, please check with your instructor before sending messages to others through the University system.World Campus Student 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.
Privacy
In order to protect your privacy, course access is limited to those individuals who have direct responsibility for the quality of your educational experience. In addition to the instructor, a teaching assistant or college administrator may be provided access in order to ensure optimal faculty availability and access. World Campus technical staff may also be given access in order to resolve technical support issues.Reporting Bias
Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage.
Mental Health Services
If you have a crisis or safety concern, mental health services are available to you as a Penn State student. Crisis and emergency contacts are available, no matter where you are located:
- Anywhere in the United States: Call the Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400 or text LIONS to 741741. You can also contact your local crisis services or hospital for emergencies.
- Outside the United States: Please contact emergency services in your current location. You can also use the International Crisis and Emergency Services listings.
- At University Park: Assistance is available at Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) locations on campus.
- At a Penn State branch campus: You can search for counseling information at your campus.
Veterans and Military
Veterans and currently serving military personnel and/or dependents with unique circumstances (e.g., upcoming deployments, drill/duty requirements, VA appointments, etc.) are welcome and encouraged to communicate these, in advance if possible, to the instructor in the case that special arrangements need to be made.
Student Responsibilities and Conduct
- Students are responsible for online course content, taking notes, obtaining other materials provided by the instructor, taking tests (if applicable), and completing assignments as scheduled by the instructor. As a general rule, students should plan on logging into the course at least three times per week and spending at least three hours per course credit per week on the course, e.g., if the course is three credits, the student should plan on spending at least 9-12 hours per week on the course, just as they would in a residence course.
- Students are responsible for keeping track of changes in the course syllabus made by the instructor throughout the semester.
- Students are responsible for monitoring their grades.
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Students must contact their instructor (and teammates when working on any collaborative learning assignments) as soon as possible if they anticipate missing long periods of online time due to events such as chronic illnesses, death in the family, business travel, or other appropriate events. The instructor will determine the minimal log on time and participation required in order to meet course responsibilities. In the event of other unforeseen conflicts, the instructor and student will arrive at a solution together.
- Requests for taking exams or submitting assignments after the due dates require documentation of events such as illness, family emergency, or a business-sanctioned activity.
- Conflicts with dates on which examinations or assignments are scheduled must be discussed with the instructor or TA prior to the date of the examination or assignment.
- Students are responsible for following appropriate netiquette (network etiquette) when communicating with their instructor and classmates. For reference, see the Academic Success Kit.
- Behaviors that disrupt other students’ learning are not acceptable and will be addressed by the instructor.
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For severe and chronic problems with student disruptive behavior, the following will be applied for resolution:
- Senate Committee on Student Life policy on managing classroom disruptions: Office of Student Accountability and Conflict Response.
- Penn State Values.
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.