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Industrial/Organizational Psyc
EPPP study cards
92
Psychology
Post-Graduate
10/11/2008

Additional Psychology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Absolute Techniques
Definition
Methods of subjective performance assessment that indicate a ratee's performance in absolute terms (ie. not in terms of the performance of other employees). Includes the Critical Incident Technique and BARS.
Term
Adverse Impact/80% Rule
Definition
The result of discrimination against individuals protected by Title VII and related legislation due to the use of an employment practice (eg. selection or placement test). When use of a selection or other employment procedure results in higher rejection rates for legally-protected individuals than for the majority group, this is said to exist. The 80% rule can be used to determine if adverse impact is occurring.
Term
Americans with Disabilities Act
Definition
Legislation that requires companies with 25 or more employees to avoid using procedures that discriminate against people with physical or mental disabilities and, when a disabled person is able to perform the essential functions of a job, to consider the person qualified and to make "reasonable accommodations."
Term
Big Five Personality Traits
Definition
Neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Conscientiousness has been found to be the best predictor of job performance across different jobs, job settings, and criterion measures.
Term
Brainstorming
Definition
A method of generating creative ideas in which individuals or group members are encouraged to freely suggest any idea or thought without criticism, evaluation, or censorship. Research suggest that individuals do better when doing this alone than in a group.
Term
Centralized and Decentralized Networks
Definition
Communication networks are categorized as both of these. Centralized networks are best for simple tasks. Decentralized networks are better for complex tasks and are associated with greater overall satisfaction.
Term
Comparable Worth
Definition
The notion that jobs should be paid on the basis of their intrinsic worth in order to overcome salary injustices.
Term
Consideration and Initiating Structure
Definition
The Ohio State University studies found that the behavior of leaders can be described in terms of two independent dimensions - c (person-centered style) and I (task-oriented style).
Term
Contingency Theory
Definition
Fiedler's theory of leadership effectiveness, which proposes that effectiveness is related to an interaction between the leader's style and the nature (favorableness) of the situation. Low LPC leaders are most effective in very unfavorable or very favorable situations; high LPC leaders are better in moderately favorable situations.
Term
Criterion Contamination
Definition
A bias that occurs when a rater's knowledge of an individual's performance on a predictor affects how the rater rates her on the criterion; can artifically inflate the criterion-related validity coefficient.
Term
Critical Incidents
Definition
Specific behaviors that are associated with outstanding and poor job performance. When incorporated into rating scales, can help reduce rater biases.
Term
Differential Validity
Definition
Exists when the validity coefficient of a predictor is significantly different for one subgroup than for another (eg. lower for African-American applicants than White applicants). Is also a cause of adverse impact.
Term
Unfairness
Definition
Members of the minority group consistently score lower on a predictor but perform approximately the same on the criterion as members of the majority group. Also a cause of adverse impact.
Term
Downsizing/Survivor Syndrome
Definition
Occurs when an organization attempts to reduce its costs by reducing the size of the work force (most often middle management) and/or by eliminating entire divisions or businesses. Workers who are not "downsized" may exhibit survivor syndrome, which is characterized by depression, anxiety, guilt, stress-related illnesses, and decreased job satisfaction and organizational commitment.
Term
Equity Theory
Definition
Theory of motivation that proposes that an employee's motivation is related to her perception that her input/outcome ratio is similar to the input/outcome ratios of others in comparable jobs. A perception of underpayment is associated with decreased satisfaction, motivation, and performance.
Term
Erg Theory
Definition
Alderfer's modification of Maslow's theory, which distinguishes between three basic needs - existence, relatedness, and growth.
Term
Expectancy Theory
Definition
Motivational theory that regards job motivation as the result of 3 elements: expectancy, insrumentality, and valence. Highest levels of motivation occur when an employee perceives that high job effort results in high task success (high expectancy), that high success leads to the attainment of certian goals (high instrumentality), and that the outcomes are desirable (positive valence).
Term
Flexitime
Definition
An alternative work schedule that allows workers to choose the times they will begin and end work. Associated with increased satisfaction and lower absenteeism, tardiness, and turnover.
Term
Force Field Analysis
Definition
According to Lewin's force field analysis model of change, organizational change involves three stages- unfreezing, changing, and refreezing.
Term
Formative Evaluation
Definition
Conducted while a training program is being developed, and their results are used to make necessary modifications to the program.
Term
Summative Evaluation
Definition
Conducted after a program has been implemented in order to assess its outcomes.
Term
4 day Workweek
Definition
An alternative work schedule that involves 4 9 or 10 hour days. Associated with increased worker satisfaction and lower absenteeism.
Term
4 Levels of Criteria
Definition
Kirkpatrick distinguishes between 4 levels of criteria for evaluating the effects of a training program - reaction, learning, behavioral, and results.
Term
Frame of Reference Training
Definition
A type of rater training that emphasizes the multidimensional nature of job performance and distinguishing between good and poor work-related behaviors.
Term
Goal-Setting Theory
Definition
A theory of job motivation that proposes that individuals will be more willing to achieve goals when they have explicitly accepted those goals and are committed to them. Also proposes that assigning specific, moderately difficult goals and providing employees wiht feedback about their accomplishment of goals increases productivity.
Term
Group Goals and Rewards
Definition
For teams working on interdependent tasks, group goals are more effective than individual goals and a combination of the two may be no more effective than group goals alone. Group rewards are categorized as either cooperative or competitive. When interdependence is high, a cooperative reward system is most effective but, when interdependence is low, a competitive system leads to greater motivation and productivity.
Term
Group Norms
Definition
The standard rules of conduct that maintain uniformity of behavior among group members.
Term
Idiosyncrasy Credits
Definition
Positive sentiments within a group toward a member that allow her to occasionallly deviate from group norms. A person accumulates these when she has a history of conforming to norms, has contributed in some special way to the group, or has served as the group leader.
Term
Group Polarization and Risky Shift Phenomenon
Definition
The tendency of groups to make more extreme decisions (either more conservative or more risky) than individual members would have made alone. The tendency to make decisions in the risky direction only is referred to as the risky shift phenomenon.
Term
Groupthink
Definition
Group members' desires for unanimity and cohesiveness override their ability to realistically appraise or determine alternative courses of action. Can be alleviated by encouraging dissent, having someone play devil's advocate, and refraining from reaching a decision or solution too quickly.
Term
Hawthorne Effect
Definition
Refers to an improvement in job performance resulting from participation in a research study (the novelty of the situation, increased attention, etc.).
Term
Holland
Definition
Holland's theory emphasizes the importance of a good personality/work environment match and distinguishes between 6 personality types (RIASEC) - realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, and conventional. The personality-environment match is most accurate as a predictor of job-related outcomes when the individual exhibits a high degree of differentiation - ie. has clear interests as evidenced by a high score on one of Holland's six interests and low scores on all others.
Term
Identical Elements
Definition
Method used to increase transfer of training; involves maximizing the similarity between the learning and performance environments.
Term
Incremental Validity
Definition
The increase in decision-making accuracy resulting from the use of a new predictor. Incremental validity is maximized when the selection ratio is low and the base rate is moderate.
Term
Internal Change Agent
Definition
A member of the organization, who is already familiar with the company's culture, norms, and power structure, and has a personal interest in the change effort. Also responsible for guididng the change effort.
Term
External Change Agent
Definition
Also known as a consultant. Often able to see the situation more objectively and to bring in a new perspective, to be better received by the members of the organization because of her impartiality, is likely to have greater influence and status, and is more willing to take risks.
Term
Job Analysis
Definition
Systematic process of determining how a job differs from other jobs in terms of required responsibilities, activities, and skills. First step in the development of a predictor or criterion; also used for identifying training needs, developing a job description or job specification, and determining the causes of accidents.
Term
Job Evaluation
Definition
Conducted for the purpose of setting wages and salaries.
Term
Job Burnout
Definition
Caused by accumulated stress associated with overwork. Its primary symptoms are a feeling of low personal accomplishment, cynicism, and emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion. An early sign of burnout is a sudden increase in work effort and hours without an increase in productivity.
Term
Job Characteristics Model
Definition
Describes a job in terms of 5 core dimensions that have an impact on 3 "critical psychological states" (meaningfulness, autonomy, and performance feedback) that, in turn, affect motivation, quality of work performance, satisfaction, absenteeism, and turnover.
Term
Job Enrichment
Definition
A method of job redesign in which the job is made more challenging and rewarding in order to increase job motivation and satisfaction. Based on Herzberg's two-factor theory.
Term
Job Enlargement
Definition
Increasing the number and variety of tsks included in a job without increasing the worker's autonomy, responsibility, etc.
Term
Job Satisfaction
Definition
High levels of satisfaction are associated with certain worker and job characteristics; eg. older employees, higher-level employees, and employees whose jobs allow them to use their skills and abilities tend to be most satisfied. The relationship between pay and satisfaction is complex and seems to be related more to the perception that one is being paid fairly than to the actual amount of pay. In terms of consequences, the correlation between satisfaction and performance is generally considered to be positive but low. The strongest relationship is between satisfaction and turnover.
Term
Krumboltz
Definition
Based on social learning theory; proposes that a person's career path is determined by an interaction between genetic endowment, environmental conditions, learning experiences, and task approach skills.
Term
Leaderless Group Discussion
Definition
A type of management development training that presents four to eight participants with problems they must solve in a specified period of time. No individual is designated as the leader; instead, participants are given teh opportunity to demonstrate leadership, communication, decision-making, and interpersonal skills in a relatively unstructured setting.
Term
Levels of Organizational Culture
Definition
Acording to Schein, organizational cultures can be described in terms of three basic levels, artificats, espoused values and beliefs, and basic underlying assumptions.
Term
Mediation
Definition
A third-party intervention in which the mediator cannot dictate an agreement between disputants but helps clarify the issues, facilitates communication, and offers alternatives and a recommended solution. An arbitrator has more authority than a mediator.
Term
Methods of Training
Definition
Training in organizations can be on the job (job rotation) or off (behavioral modeling and vestibule training).
Term
Models of Individual Decision-Making
Definition
According to the rational-economic model, decision makers attempt to maximize benefits by systematically searching for the best solution. In contrast, the bounded rationality (administrative) model proposes that rational decision making is limited by internal and external constraints so that decision makers often satisfice rather than optimize (ie. consider solutions until a fairly good one is encountered and then stop searching due to limited time and resources).
Term
Multiple Regression and Multiple Cutoff
Definition
Methods for combining predictor scores. Multiple Regression is compensatory; multiple cutoff is noncompensatory.
Term
National Culture
Definition
According to Hofstede, the culture of nations can be described in terms of 5 dimensions - power distance, uncertainty avoidance, individualism, masculinity, and long-term orientation.
Term
Need for Achievement
Definition
Employees high in this area usually choose tasks of moderate difficulty and risk, apparently because success on these tasks depends more on effort than on uncontrollable factors. These employees also prefer frequent, concrete feedback, and although their motivation does not depend on money, they view monetary rewards as a source of feedback and recognition.
Term
Need Hierarchy Theory
Definition
Maslow's theory of motivation, which proposes that 5 basic needs are arranged in a hierarchical order such that a need higher in the hierarchy doesn't serve as a source of motivation until all lower needs have been fulfilled. Has not been well supported by the research.
Term
Needs Assessment
Definition
Systematic process of determining job performance requriements and employee performance deficits to identify training needs and the content of training programs. Includes organizational, task, person, and demographic analyses.
Term
Normative Model
Definition
Theory of leadership that focuses on decision-making strategies and proposes that the best strategy (autocratic, consultative, group) depends on the nature of the situation. Provides a decision tree to help leaders choose the best strategy.
Term
Organizational Commitment
Definition
The strength of an employee's identification with the organization. Although this seems to have minimal effects on productivity, a high degree of affective commitment is related to higher levels of motivation and satisfaction, lower rates of absenteeism and turnover, and a greater willingness to make sacrifices for the company.
Term
Organizational Development
Definition
Refers to a variety of techniques and strategies aimed at the planned change of an organization using behavioral science principles and theories.
Term
Organizational Justice
Definition
Worker's evaluations of organizational policies and procedures are often based on their preceived fairness. 3 types of this are distinguished - procedural, distributive, and interactional.
Term
Overlearning
Definition
Practicing or studying beyond the point of mastery; associated wiht enhanced recall.
Term
Path-Goal Theory
Definition
Theory of leadership that proposes that the best leadership style (directive, supportive, participative, or achievement-oriented) depends on certain characteristics of the worker and the work and helps employees see how achieving organizational goals will help them attain individual goals.
Term
Person-Organization Fit
Definition
Refers to the degree to which a person's values and beliefs match those of the organization's culture. A good fit is associated with a number of benefits.
Term
Predictors
Definition
(General mental ability tests, biodata, interviews, work samples, assessment center). General mental ability tests are considered to be the best predictor of job performance across different jobs and job settings. Biodata are also good predictors of performance, especially when items are empirically derived. Interviews are the most common predictor in organizaions but generally have low levels of reliability and validity. Work samples require the individual to perform a task or operation actually required by the job. Assessment centers are used to evaluate and train applicants and current employees at the management or administrative level and incorporate a varieyt of techniques.
Term
Productivity and Cohesiveness
Definition
In groups, high cohesiveness is associated wiht greater consistency in productivity, but whether this results in high or low performance depends on the nature of the norms. In contrast, when cohesiveness is low, group norms have less impact so that, regardless of the norms, group productivity is usually in the moderate range.
Term
Process Consultation
Definition
An organizational development technique in which a consultant helps members of the organization perceive, understand, and identify ways of improving the processes that are undermining their interactions and the organizaion's effectiveness.
Term
Quality Circles
Definition
Consists of a small voluntary group of employees who work toegether on a particular job and meet regularly to discuss job-related problems and solutions. Representatives of this then present their solutions to management.
Term
Rater Biases
Definition
Contaminating factors in the rating process related to the way that the rater makes ratings. Includesthe central tendency bias, the leniency/strictness bias, and the halo effect. Overall best way to reduce this is to provide raters with adequate training, especially training that helps them observe and distinguish between different levels of performance (eg. frame of reference training).
Term
Realistic Job Preview
Definition
Method of providing accurate information about the job and the organization to job applicants; primary goal is to reduce turnover by reducing disillusionment and increasing satisfaction.
Term
Relative Techniques
Definition
(paired comparison, forced distribution) Measures of job performance that compare an employee's performance to that of other employees.
Term
Scientific Management
Definition
As described by Taylor, involves 1) Scientifically analyzing jobs into their component parts and then standardizing those parts; b) scientifically selecting , training, and placing workers in jobs for which they are mentally and physically suited; c) fostering cooperation between supervisors and workers to minimize deviation from scientific methods of work; and d) having managers and workers assume responsibility for their own share of their work.
Term
Self-Managed Work Teams
Definition
Autonomous work groups whose members are trained in the skills needed to effectively perform the group task. Their function is to make hiring, budget, and other decisions that were previously made by managers.
Term
Situational Leadership
Definition
Hersey and Blanchard's model of leadership, which proposes that the best leadership style depends on the job maturity of the workers, which is a function of ability and willingness to assume responsibility. Distinguishes between four leader styles - telling, selling, participating, and delegating.
Term
Social Cognitive Theory
Definition
Bandura's theory of motivation that emphasizes the self-regulation of behavior and proposes that self-regulation involves four processes - goal setting, self observation, self evaluation, and self reaction.
Term
Social Facilitation
Definition
The increase in learning and performance that occurs in the presence of others. Most likely to ocur when the task is simple or well learned.
Term
Social Inhibition
Definition
The decrease in learning and performance that occurs in the presence of others. Most likely to occur when the task is new or complex.
Term
Social Loafing
Definition
Tendency of an individual to work less when acting as a member of a team than when working alone. Can be alleviated by ensuring that the individual's contribution is identified and rewarded.
Term
Stages In Group Development
Definition
Tuckman and Jensen distinguish between 5 stages: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning.
Term
Strategies for Overcoming Resistance to Change
Definition
Chin and Benne classified 3 basic types: rational-empirical, normative-educative, and power-coercive.
Term
Stress
Definition
The jobs most likely to lead to these problems are those that give workers very little control over their tasks or work conditions-eg. machine-paced tasks.
Term
Lefe-Space Life-Span Theory
Definition
According to Super, the selection of a job involves finding a match between a job and one's self-concept. the theory also emphasizes the importance of career maturity, which is the ability to cope with the developmental tasks of one's life stage. The Life-Career Rainbow relates an individual's major life roles to the five life stages and is useful for helping a career counselee recognize the impact of current and future roles and stages on career planning.
Term
Survey Feedback
Definition
An OD intervention that focuses on identifying employee attitudes and perceptions.
Term
Taylor-Russell Tables
Definition
Used to estimate a predictor's incremental validity when the validity coefficient, selection ratio, and base rate are known. teh selection ratio is the ratio of number of jobs to job applicants; the base rate is the proportion of successful decisions without the new predictor.
Term
Theory X
Definition
According to McGregor, these managers believe that employees dislike work and avoid it whenever possible and, as a result, must be directed and controlled.
Term
Theory Y
Definition
These managers view work as being "as natural as play" and assume that employees are capable of self-control and self-direction.
Term
Tiedeman and O'Hara
Definition
Ego identity development. Views career identity development as an aspect of ego identity development.
Term
Total Quality Management (TQM)
Definition
Management theory that emphasizes customer service, employee involvement (especially teamwork) and continuing improvement.
Term
Transformational Leaders
Definition
Influential leaders who are characterized by their ability to recognize the need for change, create a vision for change (including defining the need for change in a way that is meaningful to followers), and effectively executing the change.
Term
Transactional Leaders
Definition
Tend to maintain the status quo and rely on rewards and punishments to motivate behavior.
Term
2 Factor Theory
Definition
Herzberg's theory of motivation and satisfaction that places satisfaction and dissatisfaction on two separate continua. Motivator factors (increases autonomy, responsibility, control, etc.) contribute to satisfaction and motivation when they are present; hygiene factors (pay, pleasant working conditions) contribute to dissatisfaction when they are absent. The basis of job enrichment.
Term
Types of Group Tasks
Definition
Classified in terms of 4 types - additive, compensative, disjunctive, and conjunctive.
Term
Work-Family Conflict
Definition
Conflict caused by incompatible work and family role demands.
Term
Work Shifts
Definition
One of three fixed shifts. the graveyard shift is associated with the most problems; however, these may be alleviated if the worker voluntarily chooses the graveyard shift. The rotating shif tis assoicated wiht more problems than the fixed shifts (eg. higher accident rates, lower productivity).
Term
Yerkes-Dodson Law
Definition
Predicts that the highest levels of learning and performance are associated wiht moderate levels of arousal, especially when moderate arousal is coupled with moderate task difficulty.
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