Click here if you would like to read the Kahneman and Klein paper.

Click here if you would like to view the Hofstede website.

Description of recent changes to medical school interview process.

Class will meet August 21, 2012.

Class will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:10 to 11:50 am in Stevenson 3046.

Course Description:

Industrial / Organizational (I/O) Psychology is the application of social science methods and principles to industrial and organizational behavior. Topics include: teams in organizations, motivation, individual differences, attitudes and emotions relevant to work, stress and well-being, fairness and diversity within organizations, leadership and organizational change and development. The ultimate objective of this discipline is to maximize both employee well-being and organizational effectiveness. Because of the data-intensive nature of I/O Psychology, if you have a basic understanding of how empirical psychological research is conducted (from Statistics, Psychological Research Methods, Social Psychology or Personality), you will find the course material more accessible.

Course Goal:

Upon completing this course, students should be able to evaluate and apply current psychological theory and research to organizational settings and problems.

Course Objectives:

• Understand why psychologists study the behavior of workers and organizations, and how this study has contributed to both our understanding and practice of work.
• Increase critical thinking by carefully examining the methodology and results of empirical research.
• Demonstrate the application of relevant psychological theory and research problems faced by employees and organizations.
• Summarize and evaluate psychological research and theory relevant to a specific organizational context.
• Use psychological theory and research to support possible solutions to organizational problems.
• Learn from direct experience about teams and organizations.

This course also is designed to contribute to the following Psychology Department learning objectives:

• Students should be able to apply psychological theories and concepts to problems and questions they find personally important
• Students should be able to apply psychological theories, concepts and principles to personal and broader social systems and issues.
• Students should be able to recognize and understand the complexity of cultural diversity.
• Students should be able to understand and apply basic research methods in psychology and the social sciences.

Course Text:
Landy, F.J. & Comte, J.M. (2007). Work in the 21st Century: An introduction to industrial and organizational psychology, 2nd edition. Madden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing.

Other resources:

• University Policies:  http://www.sonoma.edu/uaffairs/policies/studentinfo.shtml
• Disability Services for Students (DSS): http://www.sonoma.edu/dss/ (Salazar 1049)
• Writing Center Resource: Free consultation; http://www.sonoma.edu/programs/writingcenter/ (Schulz 1103)
• Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): http://www.sonoma.edu/counselingctr/ (Stevenson 1088)

Heather Smith, Ph.D.
Stevenson 2087
664-2587
smithh@sonoma.edu