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Industrial and Organizational Psychology: Research and Practice 3^rd Ed.

Paul E. Spector

Publisher: John Wiley

This is a college level (undergraduate or graduate) textbook designed for an introductory course to the field of Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology. It covers the major areas and findings from the literature of the field, focusing on both science and practice. The text takes somewhat of an international perspective, distinguishing findings and practice in the U.S. from other countries. The chapters are organized around the major subdivisions of the field.

Part One of this book provides an overview of the I/O field. Chapter 1 covers its nature and its history. I/O is discussed as both a practice and a science. The chapter describes what a career in I/O involves, and what it takes to become an I/O psychologist. Chapter 2 is an overview of the basic principles of I/O research methods.

The remainder of the book is divided into four major sections. In Part Two, Chapter 3 discusses job analysis or the assessment of jobs. Chapter 4 focuses on the assessment of employee job performance. Chapter 5 explores the way in which employee characteristics are measured. Part Three contains two chapters. Chapter 6 deals with the methods that organizations use to hire new employees. Chapter 7 follows those new as well as experienced employees through their training programs.

The four chapters in Part Four discuss the relationship between the individual and the organization. Chapter 8 covers theories of motivation. Chapter 9 focuses on how people feel about their jobs—their level of job satisfaction and commitment to the organization. The topic of Chapter 10 is productive and counterproductive work behavior. Chapter 11 deals with Occupational Health Psychology (worker health, safety, and well-being).

The final part of the book, Part Five, is concerned with the social context of work. Chapter 12 explores small work groups or work teams and their effect on the individual. Chapter 13 discusses leadership and supervision in the workplace. Chapter 14, the last chapter, takes an organization perspective. It covers organizational development and organizational theory.

In each chapter except the first two, there are three special features. First, there is a detailed summary of a research study from one of the major I/O journals. Each "Research in Detail’’ was chosen to give added insight through a study that is relevant to topics covered in the chapter. The implications of each study for the practice of I/O are also discussed. Second, a detailed summary of an I/O study conducted outside of the U.S. is provided. Each “International Replication” shows findings from a different country/culture that may or may not be the same as in the U.S. where most I/O research has been conducted. Finally, a case study describes how a practicing I/O psychologist was able to help an organization with a problem. These "I/O Psychology in Practice’’ cases were chosen to represent the wide variety of settings and applied work that involve I/O psychologists.