THE I/O PSYCHOLOGY AREA
COURSE INFORMATION
CORE COURSES
One core course is offered during the Fall term (September to December), and another in the Winter term (January to April). Core courses do not occur during the Summer term (May to August). These courses are offered on a rotating basis.
Performance Appraisal and Related Issues.
As a topic within the area of I/O Psychology, this course will cover research relevant to the application of psychological theory and methods for the purpose of appropriately measuring a key criterion variable within work-settings, that is, job performance. A variety of approaches to the measurement of performance will be discussed in detail and some of the more prominent topics will be validation and evaluation of the “goodness” of performance appraisals, attempts to improve performance appraisals, and theories of job performance. Half course (0.5); one term.
Motivation and Leadership.
This seminar course is designed to familiarize students with theory and research on motivation and leadership in a work context. We will discuss classic and modern theories of motivation and leadership and critically evaluate the research that has been conducted to test them. Implications for the design of motivation systems and for the assessment and selection of managers will also be addressed. Half course (0.5); one term.
The Psychology of Personnel Selection, Recruitment, and Job Analysis.
This course will cover the application of psychological theory and methods for the purpose of insuring that the particular individuals hired by an organization are likely to be successful employees. Job analysis, which is a collection of techniques that allows one to infer the basic knowledge, skill, aptitude, and personal characteristics required for a job, will be covered. Additionally, the course will cover employee recruitment, and a variety of approaches to personnel selection. Cost/benefit considerations in personnel selection will be covered under the rubric of utility analysis. Half course (0.5); one term.
Work Groups and Teams in Organizations.
The purpose of this course is to examine psychological issues associated with work groups (or teams) in organizational settings. Particular attention will be given to the implications, for work attitudes and performance, of the design, structure and composition of groups, as well as the congruence between structure/process variables associated with the group and those of the organization in which it is embedded. Throughout the course, emphasis will be placed on methodological issues associated with work group / team research. Half course (0.5); one term.
Research Methods in I/O Psychology.
The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with research methods used in the science and practice of I/O Psychology. Students will be introduced to a variety of commonly used methods and techniques including (but not limited to) multi-item scale development, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling, and dealing with common method variance. The objective of the course will be to provide students with a basic understanding of, and appreciation for, these methods and how they can be used in research and practice. Half course (0.5); one term.
Work Attitudes and Behaviour.
This seminar is designed to familiarize students with theory and research on work attitudes and behaviour. The course begins with an overview of construct development and measurement issues as they pertain to work attitude research. We will then focus on the two most widely studied work attitudes -- job satisfaction and work commitment -- and discuss their development, correlates, and consequences. Particular consideration will be given to withdrawal intentions / behaviour, organizational citizenship behaviour, and workplace deviance behaviour. Throughout the course, emphasis will be placed on the critical evaluation of theory and research as well as on their implications for practice in applied settings. Half course (0.5); one term.
STATISTICS
Research Design (Statistics).
This course serves as a general survey and introduction to statistics at the graduate level, stressing a conceptual understanding and appreciation of major analytic procedures. Topics covered include the logic of inferential statistics, correlation and regression, univariate analysis of variance (both traditional and regression approaches), multivariate analysis of variance, multiple regression, discriminant function analysis, canonical correlation, factor analysis and causal modelling. Most applications of the procedures focus on SPSS. Full course (1.0); two terms.
Multilevel Modeling (MLM).
This course serves as an introduction to theory, design, and application of multilevel modeling. The course is ideal for students who plan to do research with group level data (e.g., peer groups, teams in organization or sports, dyads such as couples or twins, surveys with clustered data, neighborhoods, and classrooms) or multi-observation studies (e.g., daily diary studies, longitudinal designs, experimental designs with multiple repeated stimuli) Students should come with training in multiple regression and would benefit from experience in analysis of variance and structural equation modeling. Course topics include a review of traditional regression procedures, research design with multilevel structures, the basic two-level regression model (and extension to three-levels), methodological and statistical issues including power analyses, models with longitudinal data, models with dichotomous, categorical or count outcomes and structural equation models with multiple data levels and mediation. My overall objective is to provide students with the necessary knowledge to apply MLM to research through hands-on individualized projects tailored to students’ research interests and needs. Students have the opportunity to analyze their own data, to use large data sets provided in the course, or to conduct simulation studies (in Mplus or other packages such as HLM or SPSS Mixed Models). Half course (0.5); one term.
Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).
This course serves as an introduction to structural equation modeling (SEM). No prior experience with SEM is required; however, experience in multiple linear regression, factor analysis, and psychometric principles of reliability and construct validity is recommended. My overall objective is to help you develop a solid conceptual and theoretical understanding and ability to use SEM and its extensions correctly and effectively in your own independent research. The course topics include the foundational concepts of the measurement and structural models, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), traditional path analysis, and basic principles of model building including specification, identification, estimation, hypothesis testing, and modification. Topics also include applications and extensions of SEM such as scale construction and validation, mediation and moderation, multi-group analyses, measurement invariance and latent growth modeling. Students will have the opportunity to work on projects tailored to their research interests and needs. Software packages demonstrated in the course will include Mplus and AMOS but students are free to use other programs such as R or EQS. Half course (0.5); one term.
DOCTORAL SEMINAR
Topics addressed in I/O doctoral seminars change depending on course instructor availability and interests. Recent seminars include:
Motivation and Leadership across Cultures
Organizational Change: A Psychological Perspective
Examining the Impact of Research in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Doctoral Seminar in Industrial Psychology