Organizational Psychology Essays - Behavioural Sciences, Free Essays

Organizational Psychology Essays - Behavioural Sciences, Free Essays Organizational Psychology Organizational Psychology Organizational psychology differs from traditional psychology. Organizational psychology focuses on the group aspect of psychology and goes a bit further. While focusing on groups organizational psychology also looks at each person in a group to help solve problems. ?Organizational psychology is a field that utilizes scientific methodology to better understand the behavior of individuals working in organizational settings? (Jex & Britt, 2008, p. 1). This paper will define organizational psychology, explain the role of research and statistics in organizational psychology, and describe how organizational psychology can be used within organizations. Organizational psychology plays an important role to any organization that exists. Organizational Psychology Organizational psychology is defined as ?The study of the structure of an organization and of the ways in which the people in it interact, usually undertaken in order to improve the organization? (Farlex, 2012). Organizational psychology is normally done in a formal group setting, which evaluates both the group setting as well as individual people. Organizations have a set of values that employees are expected to abide by without the set of values employees would just do their own things, and the job would not get done (Jex & Britt, 2008). Roles of Research and Statistics Research and statistics play an important role of any organization. Research is done to find the best method of action that an organizational psychologist should take to correct an action. According to Jex and Britt, ?organizational psychologists often us systematic research methods to provide organizational decision makers with information regarding employees attitudes? (2008, p. 21, para. 2). Research and statistics provide answers for organization. Without research and statistics questions could not be answered. There are different types of data collection methods that assist with research and statistics these different data collection methods are observational, archival data, survey research, and experimentation. First is an observational method, which is used to study the behavior of employees in organizations. Data is collected by observing employees in the workplace and recording the observations. Observation is a simple way of collecting data, employees act as if they would on any normal work day accurate information can be obtained. Second is archival data. Archival data is using the records that the organization already has on hand about the employees. This allows an organizational psychologist to look back and reflect on any employee?s history and correct behavioral or work related problems. Third is survey research. Survey research is the most common form of research. Survey research asks the employees about their past behaviors, or actions in the workplace. Survey research can also be done to test different theories in the workplace to see what works best within the workplace. Fourth is experimentation. Experimentation is highly controlled and can give accurate results. There are three components that constitute a true experiment these components are manipulation of an independent variable and measurement of a dependent variable, second random experimental treatment conditions, and third maximum control (Jex Without data collection methods research could not be done within an organization therefore no statistics would be available about an organization. Organizational Psychology in Organizations Organizational psychology can be used in organizations in different ways. One way to use organizational psychology is to correct any issues that may have arisen with employees either with coworkers or with a member of management. Another way to use organizational psychology is to correct the way employees are working. Organizational psychology can help correct ones attitude towards the place of employment. Organizational psychology can help an organization become more successful. Organizations can also save money using organizational psychology because a professional has come into the organization and helped solve problems that may arise again in the near future. This saves the organization not only money but time as well. Organizational psychology also helps increase customer service when an organization is running successfully the customers notice and have a more pleasant experience dealing with the organization. Organizational psychologists can also help hire better people for the workplace, improve skills, eliminate harassment and discrimination, and foster a team environment (Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 2012). Conclusion Organizational psychology is the focus of working with an organization or a group of people to solve problems that may arise within that group of