INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY

This test is a survey of industrial psychology, with an emphasis on the application of psychological theories and
research to staffing and development functions, as well as workplace design. (3 s.h.)
PSY-363-TE
This is a two-hour examination in which you must answer 100 multiple-choice questions (worth 1 point each).
A passing score is 60 out of 100 points.
Here are the topics covered and their approximate importance on the test:
I.

RESEARCH METHODS
A.
B.
C.
D.

II.

III.

Methods for gathering survey data

Composing survey items
Selecting survey participants
Analyzing data findings

SELECTION PROCESSES
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

(10%)

(45%)

Various uses and methods of job analysis

Recruiting procedures
Legal concepts involving employee selection
Structured applicant interviewing
Validity and reliability of personnel selection decisions

EMPLOYMENT PROCESSES

(20%)

A. Training needs analysis

B. Creating and applying performance appraisal systems
C. Motivational procedures relating to job satisfaction
IV.

WORK CONDITIONS AND HUMAN FACTORS

(25%)

A. Leadership theories and skills related to work environment communication

B. Organizational development and group behavior as sources leading to demonstrations of stress
management
C. Work environment safety
D. Declines in job performance and productivity
E. Plans to revise working conditions
Textbooks to help you prepare:
Aamodt, Michael G. Applied Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
Current edition. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth
Jewell, Linda. Contemporary Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
Current edition. Pacific Grove CA: Brooks/Cole
Muchinsky, Paul. Psychology Applied to Work.
Current edition. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/ Cole
Schultz, Duane and Sydney Schultz. Psychology and Work Today.
Current edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall

The questions on this exam require the following abilities:

Knowledge and understanding of basic concepts and terms about 30% of the exam
Application of basic concepts and terms to situations and problems about 70% of the exam

SAMPLE QUESTIONS
1.

What is the best recruiting source for the position of Chief Financial Officer for a Fortune 500 company?
a.
b.
c.
d.

2.

If a measurement technique is reliable,

a.
b.
c.
d.

3.

training needs assessment

feedback to the employee
promotion
both (a) and (b)

The main benefit of programmed instruction as a training technique is that

a.
b.
c.
d.

6.

should come from this year's vacation days

should come from this year's sick days
is granted through the Family Medical Leave Act
is not guaranteed and can only be given at the discretion of his employer

Performance appraisal systems that compare employees with each other are most useful for
a.
b.
c.
d.

5.

it will provide similar scores for most test-takers on most occasions

it will yield similar scores if candidates are tested on two separate occasions
protected groups will score similarly to non-protected groups
scores can be relied on for selection and placement

Mark Li needs to find an extended-care residential medical facility for his father. To do this, he must take
several weeks off from work to find a facility, move his father, and attend to legal and medical matters.
The time he needs to take off
a.
b.
c.
d.

4.

Radio advertisement
Job fair
College placement office
Search firm

it is self-paced
participants are actively involved in the learning process
it provides immediate feedback
all of the above

In a flexible work schedule the term bandwidth defines the range of hours
a.
b.
c.
d.

within which the employee can choose to work

within which everyone is required to work
that are most popular to work
that are least popular to work

7.

One of the earliest applications of human factors research to the workplace was found in
a.
b.
c.
d.

8.

All of the following are duties of an industrial psychologist in a work setting EXCEPT
a.
b.
c.
d.

9.

all rewards individuals receive as a result of their employment

the wages individuals receive each pay period
wage schedules and wage rates listed in the union contract
the internal alignment of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards

The existence of discrimination is determined by the

a.
b.
c.
d.

14.

Training and development

Managing the business
Employee relations
Compensation

Compensation refers to
a.
b.
c.
d.

13.

learning is an active, rather than passive, process

trial and error is probably the most efficient method of learning
the individual must be motivated to learn
learning methods should be as varied as possible

Which of the following is NOT a basic personnel function?

a.
b.
c.
d.

12.

clinical and control groups

observational and control groups
observational and experimental groups
experimental and control groups

The application of learning theory to organizational training does NOT suggest that
a.
b.
c.
d.

11.

organizational analysis and planning

test development and planning
psychotherapy and self clarification
job studies and analysis

An independent variable has different values in the

a.
b.
c.
d.

10.

time and motion studies

equipment enhancement
product design
environmental control studies

result of employment practices

appearance of fairness in employment practices
intent of employment practices
employers future plans

Placement and classification decisions are easier to make when jobs are
a.
b.
c.
d.

different and each applicant has similar levels of ability

similar and each applicant has different levels of ability
different and each applicant has different levels of ability
similar and each applicant has similar levels of ability

15.

What type of personnel data is the most commonly used in performance appraisal?
a.
b.
c.
d.

16.

An employee who receives uniformly bad ratings across all job performance dimensions is most likely the
victim of which type of rating error?
a.
b.
c.
d.

17.

Frequency and intensity

Frequency and pitch
Pitch and loudness
Pitch and intensity

Which of the following is most true with regard to fatigue?

a.
b.
c.
d.

20.

Most training outcomes are behavioral in nature.

Behavioral objectives are more important.
Behavioral objectives have broader applicability.
It reduces ambiguity about the objectives of training.

What are two physical characteristics of noise?

a.
b.
c.
d.

19.

Predictor
Contrast effect
Central tendency
Halo

What is the primary reason it is desirable to state training objectives in behavioral terms?
a.
b.
c.
d.

18.

Grievances
Absenteeism
Accidents
Number of sales

It is a sociological phenomenon.
It is often the result of monotony.
It is a physiological phenomenon.
It is less generalized than boredom.

Which of the following measurement scales is most precise?

a.
b.
c.
d.

Nominal
Ordinal
Interval
Ratio

ANSWERS TO SAMPLE QUESTIONS

1. d 2. b
11. b

12. a

3. c
13. a

4. c

5. d

14. c

15. b

6. a
16. d

7. a

8. c

17. d

9. d

18. a

10. b
19. c

20. d