Industrial and organizational psychology

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Industrial-organizational psychology is an area of psychology that focuses on studying people in their work environment. The role can also involve focusing on workplace dynamics and organizational structures. By making use of industrial-organizational psychologists, workplaces can improve the success of their organization. Industrial-organizational psychology first began in the early 20th century when it was found that soldiers returning from World War I needed therapy to restore morale. It wasn't until after World War II that the field actually grew, and as the 20th century advanced, the use of an industrial-organizational psychologist in the workplace became more common.

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Those who work as an industrial-organizational psychologist can expect to spend a lot of time working with statistics.

As developing initiatives on behalf of businesses depends on science-based research, industrial-organizational psychology relies heavily on working with large numbers. There are many functions performed by industrial-organizational psychologists which include Personnel Psychology, a subfield of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Personnel psychology is the area of industrial-organizational psychology that primarily deals with the recruitment, selection, and evaluation of personnel, and other job aspects such as morale, job satisfaction, and relationships between managers and workers in the workplace.

It is the field of study that concentrates on the selection and evaluation of employees; this area of psychology deals with job analysis, defining and measuring job performance, performance appraisal, employment testing, and employment interviews. Personnel psychology is used in a variety of ways.

Some of the most important functions it serves range from analyzing corporate culture and individual and group interactions to developing and evaluating employee selection and appraisal techniques.

Other areas of use are assessing corporate leadership and employee motivation strategies, identifying causes and resolutions to internal conflicts, advising management of the potential psychological and social impact of corporate policies, and researching ways organizations can effectively manage cultural differences and leadership styles. Personnel psychologists work in a variety of settings, including education, business, community, and agency environments.