Industrial-organizational (I/O) psychology is a field in which psychologists work within organizations to address assessment, engagement, retention, and productivity of employees and workers. To further digest this complex discipline, the American Psychological Association characterizes I/O psych as the scientific study of human behavior as it concerns workplaces.
Industrial-organizational psychologists might find themselves working within the government, businesses, nonprofits, marketing, human resources, consulting, or higher education among others. In a field that has such wide reach, it can be difficult to imagine what exactly the day-to-day work of an I/O psychologist looks like. The following three examples give possible workplace scenarios for I/O psychologists.
Request infoEmployee Training and Career Development
A human resources professional is one of the many career paths an industrial-organizational professional can take. Involved in this career is the ongoing training of employees and the development of employees for the company for which the I/O psychologist works. The Association for Psychological Science details how training happens on multiple levels.
Employees undergo training that is specific to their field and their company as well as given time to implement these skills. On an individual level, employees are trained based on their individual skill set and their long- and short-term career development goals.
The job of an I/O psychologist is to assess each employee individually in his or her role and how development in this role relates to the company. On top of this, professionals use their expertise to ascertain how best to orient the company’s training based on industry or company goals, strengths, weaknesses, and needs.
Ergonomic Accommodation
Ergonomics is the field of study that focuses on how individuals interact with their workplaces, systems, and products. I/O psychology professionals may be in charge of evaluating how easily employees can access their workplace and perform their duties given the systems and products utilized by the company or organization. In addition to this, I/O psychologists may be in charge of developing procedures that not only help maximize employee performance but minimize their risk of an on-the-job injury.
Employee Satisfaction
In addition to managing the happiness and well-being of employees as they perform their work, I/O psychologists might collect data on employee job satisfaction. This includes the productivity of the workplace, motivation, rewards, and general employee sentiments about job enjoyment. Within this example, the I/O psychologist’s job is to collect and evaluate data given by employees. It’s up to the I/O psych to figure out solutions and changes (with the help of other company professionals) that might benefit the workplace and employees based on satisfaction temperature checks.
Industrial-organizational psychologists are important because of how they help assess problems and create change within work environments and organizations. The role is especially important now as company policy and culture changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. These professionals help manage difficult conversations and provide comfort (physical, emotional, mental, etc.) or tools to make employees’ day-to-day work more amicable.
Degrees in I/O Psychology
At The Chicago School, we offer a variety of I/O psychology programs either online or at one of our campuses, from certificates to M.A. degrees, sure to prepare graduates for the complexities of today’s business environment.
Learn more about I/O Psychology at The Chicago School
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