Industrial and organizational psychology (commonly abbreviated as I/O psychology) attempts to apply psychological results and methods to aid workers and organizations. As such, it is a fairly diverse field incorporating aspects of fields such as clinical psychology, social psychology, and psychometrics as well as broader social studies such as organizational theory, law, and gender issues.
Many I/O psychologists specialize in “I” aspects (e.g., psychometrics; time and motion studies; labor law) or “O” aspects (e.g., leadership selection, coaching and development; organizational design and change). Some I/O psychologists are academic or non-academic researchers while many others are engaged in practice, holding positions such as:
- executive coach
- diversity consultant
- legislative compliance officer
- labor relations specialist
- human resources specialist
- process improvement consultant
- manager of selection and training.
See also: Industrial Sociology