Work Psychology
Understanding Human Behavior in the Workplace
7th edition
Chapter 1
The discipline of work
psychology: An initial
orientation
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Psychology
Often defined as ‘The science of mental life’
‘Science’ because most psychologists seek to
gather systematic data under controlled conditions
‘Mental life’ refers to all of behaviour, thoughts and
emotions
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Areas of Basic Psychology
1. Biological psychology
Concerns the biological basis of behaviour
2. Cognitive psychology
Concerns thought processes such as decision-making and memory
3. Developmental psychology
Concerns the ways in which people grow and change
psychologically, in childhood and adulthood
4. Social psychology
Concerns how individual behaviour, thoughts and emotions influence,
and are influenced by other people
5. Individual differences
Concerns how people differ from each other psychologically and how
those differences are measured
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Work Psychology
• An area of applied psychology – involves the
application and development of ideas, theories
and techniques drawn from different areas of
basic psychology to a specific arena (people and
their work)
• Other areas of applied psychology include
educational, clinical, health, counselling and
forensic
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The Practice of Work Psychology
The British Psychological Society(BPS) says:
Occupational psychology is concerned with the
performance of people at work and with how
individuals, small groups and organisations behave
and function. Its aim is to increase the effectiveness
of the organisation and improve the job satisfaction
of individuals.
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Some of the Topics Covered within
Work Psychology
• Psychological assessment at work
• Learning, training and development
• Leadership, engagement and motivation
• Well-being and work
• Work design, organisational change and development
Topics such as diversity, gender, fairness and culture
are relevant within all of the knowledge areas listed
above.
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Scientist-Practitioner
• People who work with important issues and
measure important outcomes of their
interventions. They are also good at sharing
their knowledge, but…
• ‘the needs of clients do not necessarily derive
from what research has chosen to study nor
does the path of science always focus on
practical applications’ (Lowman, 2012: 153)
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Evidence-based Management
Evaluated
external Stakeholders’
evidence preferences or
values
Decision
considers all
four sources
Practitioner Context,
experience or organisational
judgement actors,
circumstances
Based on Briner, Denyer, and
Rousseau, 2009; p.22.
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Skills of a Work Psychologist
• Active listening
• Mathematical ability
• Oral expression
• Statistical software
• Problem solving
• Critical analysis
• Ethical conduct
• Research and analysis skills
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Some Ethical Considerations in Work
Psychology Research
• Informed consent of participants
• The use of deception
• Debriefing
• The right to withdraw
• Confidentiality
• Protection
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Sources of Information
• Academic literature:
– General textbooks
– Specific textbooks or book chapters
– Academic journals
• Non-academic literature:
– Government reports
– Professional bodies’ reports
– Online material
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Research Methods in Work
Psychology
• Questionnaires (survey)
• Interviews
• measures
• Observation
• Diaries
• Academic journals
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Hypothetical research methods used by a
work psychologist
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The Changing World of Work
• Ageing work population
• Increasing labour market participation and
equality for some groups
• Remote/dispersed working
• Computer/Internet forms of selection of
candidates
• globalisation
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Some Implications of Workplace
Changes for Work Psychology
• The performance and development of older
workers
• Managing diversity in the workplace
• Impact of new ways of working on employee
well-being
• Managing and leading people (i) from a variety of
cultures (ii) not physically present
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Questions????
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