Deck 14: Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Question 1

Which of the following is true of ergonomics?

A)Ergonomics is a field that focuses on studying group and intergroup phenomenA.
B)Ergonomics is a field that focuses on the social environment of the workplace.
C)Ergonomics is a field that focuses on combining engineering and psychology.
D)All of these.

Answer 1

Ergonomics is a field that focuses on combining engineering and psychology.

Question 2

Hannah reads a journal article on how using wrist rests for key boards can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome instead of preventing it.This journal article is most likely to be in the field of

A)economics.
B)ergonomics.
C)mnemonics.
D)genomics.

Answer 2

ergonomics.

Question 3

Vail Co. ,a manufacturer of electronic gadgets,has designed a new computer mouse.The engineers at Vail Co.claim that their mouse has been specifically designed to mitigate pain and stress.The mouse has been designed to have a vertical grip that keeps the user's hand and wrist at a neutral angle,thereby reducing discomfort.In designing their new computer mouse,the scientists at Vail Co.have conducted studies in the field of

A)ergonomics.
B)group dynamics.
C)mnemonics.
D)abnormal psychology.

Answer 3

ergonomics.

Question 4

When her manager asks Sally to demonstrate how fast she can accomplish her task on the production line,Sally finishes the task in record time.Sally's performance is best explained by the

A)placebo effect.
B)anchoring effect.
C)halo effect.
D)Hawthorne effect.

Question 5

Meterminx Inc. ,a clock manufacturer,adds a motorized conveyer belt to its manufacturing plant so that the clock being fabricated automatically moves from one workstation to the next,and the workers stay in the same place.From the information in this scenario,it is evident that Meterminx has employed the process of

A)assembly line.
B)batch production.
C)collaborative customization.
D)pilot production.

Question 6

Desmond is an account executive at a small accounting firm.Over the years,his performance has dipped gradually.One day,his manager summons him and tells him that his performance is being monitored.The manager further warns Desmond that if he fails to improve his productivity,he may have to lose his job. Surprisingly,after one month,performance reviews indicate a drastic improvement in Desmond's productivity.
Desmond's performance can be best explained by the

A)placebo effect.
B)halo effect.
C)Hawthorne effect.
D)anchoring effect.

Question 7

_____ is the managerial philosophy that emphasizes the worker as a well-oiled machine and the determination of the most efficient methods for performing any work-related task.

A)Contingency management
B)Scientific management
C)Strengths-based management
D)Human relations approach

Question 8

Elton Mayo and his landmark Hawthorne studies emphasized

A)the notion that what was good for an employee was not always good for business.
B)the notion that what was good for business was good for an employee.
C)the time-and-motion aspects of a job.
D)a human relations approach to management.

Question 9

AGM Corp.is a refrigerator manufacturing company.AGM adopts a manufacturing process in which the various components are added to an unfinished refrigerator unit as the unit moves from one workstation to another on a conveyor belt.The refrigerator is put together by adding the parts at each workstation in a sequential manner. Which of the following manufacturing processes is exemplified in this scenario?

A)assembly line
B)batch production
C)prototyping
D)pilot production

Question 10

According to the Hawthorne effect,people perform better when they

A)are not scrutinized.
B)feel what they do matters to someone.
C)are exposed to a new working environment.
D)are conditioned to a positive stimulus at the workplace.

Question 11

Calico Inc.manufactures computer chairs that are designed to prevent muscular strain and provide backrest. These chairs have been specifically engineered for office workers who spend several hours a day in front of their computers.The managers of Calico Inc.claim that their computer chairs are aimed at promoting worker efficiency and safety.Which of the following disciplines have the engineers at Calico used in developing their chairs?

A)mnemonics
B)ergonomics
C)human relations
D)group dynamics

Question 12

Who among the following is working in the field of ergonomics?

A)Salim,who applies psychological knowledge to legal concepts
B)Jack,who designs products that are used every day with the aim of promoting user efficiency
C)Katie,who forecasts weather every day using statistical analysis
D)Maya,who calculates the Big Mac Index as an indicator of the purchasing power parity of nations

Question 13

Which of the following approaches has influenced industrial and organizational psychology?

A)ergonomics
B)scientific management
C)Hawthorne studies
D)All of these.

Question 14

Which of the following statements best defines industrial and organizational psychology?

A)It refers to the field of psychology that is concerned with how people become who they are,from conception to death.
B)It refers to the field of psychology that examines attention,consciousness,information processing,and memory.
C)It refers to the field of psychology that focuses on diagnosing and treating people with psychological problems.
D)It is the field of psychology that applies the science of human behavior to work and the workplace.

Question 15

Which of the following is a guideline suggested by Frederick Winslow Taylor,the mastermind of the idea of scientific management?

A)Employees should be evaluated to check whether they are doing a good job.
B)Employees should be trained at the job they will perform.
C)Employees should be rewarded for honesty.
D)Employees should be hired on the basis of their cultural fitment.

Question 16

The term human factors is also known as

A)cognitive science.
B)biomedicine.
C)psychometrics.
D)ergonomics.

Question 17

Which of the following instances can be attributed to the Hawthorne effect?

A)An organization's efficiency improves after it conducts a thorough job analysis.
B)An organization's efficiency improves after it changes its methods of employee selection and training.
C)Keith's productivity and quality of work increases when he works as part of a team.
D)Alicia's productivity increases when she is told that her performance is being monitoreD.

Question 18

Food and Fun Inc. ,a hamburger fast-food restaurant,systematizes its operations in such a way that one person is in charge of grilling,another person is in charge of dressing the edible items,and the third person delivers the orders to the customers.The unassembled burger ingredients are moved from one worker to another via a small motorized conveyor belt.Food and Fun is probably following a pattern of

A)craft production.
B)pilot production.
C)prototyping.
D)assembly line.

Question 19

Understanding and enhancing the safety and efficiency of the human-machine interaction is the central focus of

A)mnemonics.
B)behavioral psychology.
C)group dynamics.
D)ergonomics.

Question 20

The tendency of individuals to perform better simply because of being singled out and made to feel important is called

A)the primacy effect.
B)the Hawthorne effect.
C)positive reinforcement.
D)the halo effect.

Question 21

In the context of job analysis,which of the following statements best defines competencies?

A)Competencies refer to what an individual must be able to do.
B)Competencies refer to a person's capacity to learn a job and to gain new skills through training.
C)Competencies refer to what a person needs to know to function in a job.
D)Competencies refer to not only to what a person can do,but to what he or she will do on a job.

Question 22

_____ focuses on increasing efficiency and productivity through the appropriate use of a firm's personnel or employees.

A)Comparative psychology
B)Cross-cultural psychology
C)Industrial psychology
D)Organizational psychology

Question 23

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

A)was passed to prevent individuals with disabilities from performing essential functions.
B)made it illegal to offer employment or a promotion to a person with a disability.
C)supports the use of accommodations that permit qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of a job.
D)defines a person with a disability as qualified for a position if he is only able to perform nonessential job functions,with or without reasonable accommodations.

Question 24

Unlike organizational psychology,industrial psychology

A)focuses on research and practice involving human relations.
B)emphasizes the psychological experience of an employee.
C)studies and applies the principles of human behavior to work and the workplace.
D)focuses on increasing efficiency through the appropriate use of a firm's personnel.

Question 25

Mia,a human resource professional,describes the various tasks involved in her job role.She also identifies the skills and knowledge level required to perform the role successfully.In this case,Mia performs a

A)job analysis.
B)job orientation.
C)job appraisal.
D)job evaluation.

Question 26

In the context of industrial psychology,a job analysis

A)involves evaluating whether a person is doing a good job.
B)can focus on the job itself or on the characteristics of the person who is suited for the joB.
C)accurately describes the essential functions of a job while eliminating the nonessential functions.
D)is irrelevant in the legal realm.

Question 27

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)of 1990,which of the following statements is true?

A)A person with a disability is qualified for a position only if he or she is able to perform the essential job functions without reasonable accommodations.
B)Nonessential functions cannot be used as grounds for not hiring a person with a disability.
C)An accommodation must be provided for a person with a disability even if it places an undue hardship on the employer.
D)A person with a disability can use the bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ)defense if an employer does not hire the person.

Question 28

Bella's employer asks her to generate a description of her job that entails what a job applicant needs to know to perform the job,the desired skills and abilities required for the job,and other favorable characteristics that the job applicant must possess for the job.Bella's employer has asked her to generate a(n)

A)performance appraisal.
B)job evaluation report.
C)person-oriented job analysis.
D)integration test.

Question 29

_____ emphasizes the psychological characteristics of workers and managers and stresses the significance of factors such as moral,attitudes,and values.

A)Scientific management
B)The human relations approach
C)Strengths-based management
D)Ergonomics

Question 30

In the context of job analysis,which of the following statements best defines abilities?

A)Abilities refer to what an individual must be able to do.
B)Abilities refer to a person's capacity to learn a job and to gain new skills.
C)Abilities refer to what a person needs to know to function in a job.
D)Abilities refer to not only to what a person can do,but to what he or she will do on a job.

Question 31

In the context of job analysis,which of the following statements best defines knowledge?

A)It refers to what an individual must be able to do.
B)It refers to a person's capacity to learn a job and to gain new skills.
C)It refers to what a person needs to know to function in a job.
D)It refers to not only to what a person can do,but to what he or she will do on a job.

Question 32

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)of 1990 determines

A)what qualifies as fair treatment for a person with a disability.
B)what qualifies as bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ)defenses for a person with a disability.
C)what qualifies as nonessential functions for individuals with disabilities.
D)what qualifies as essential functions for individuals with disabilities.

Question 33

The process of generating a description of what a job involves,including the knowledge and skills that are necessary to carry out the functions of the job,is called a

A)job evaluation.
B)job analysis.
C)job orientation.
D)performance appraisal.

Question 34

In the context of job analysis,which of the following statements best defines skills?

A)Skills refer to what an individual must be able to do.
B)Skills refer to a person's capacity to learn a job and to gain new skills.
C)Skills refer to what a person needs to know to function in a job.
D)Skills refer to not only to what a person can do,but to what he or she will do on a job.

Question 35

The human relations approach to management lays emphasis on

A)the significance of factors such as morale,attitudes,and values.
B)the psychological characteristics of workers and managers.
C)the workplace as an important social system.
D)all of these.

Question 36

Which of the following is NOT one of the three essential elements of a job analysis?

A)following a systematic procedure that is set up in advance
B)stating the current demand for a particular job
C)breaking down a job into small units
D)framing an employee manual that characterizes a job

Question 37

Which of the following statements demonstrates how the Hawthorne studies affected industrial and organizational (I-O)psychology?

A)The studies reinforced the principles of scientific management.
B)The studies confirmed the idea that what was good for business was good for the employee.
C)The studies persuasively demonstrated that the workplace is a social system populated by human beings.
D)All of these.

Question 38

A _____ outlines what the job entails and what it requires.

A)job-oriented analysis
B)person-oriented job analysis
C)performance appraisal
D)job evaluation

Question 39

Jonah works as a program analyst for Ruby Inc.James,a human resource manager,is in the process of recruiting new candidates for the company.He asks Jonah to write a description of what his job entails and the necessary skills required for the position.James has asked Jonah to help him prepare a(n)

A)job analysis.
B)integrity test.
C)job evaluation.
D)performance appraisal.

Question 40

Nate,a human resource professional,is in the process of preparing a description for the role of a business analyst.In the description,he states that the role primarily entails requirements management and calls for a strong understanding of systems engineering concepts and modeling techniques.In this scenario,Nate is most likely developing a

A)job appraisal report.
B)job evaluation report.
C)person-oriented job analysis.
D)job-oriented analysis.

Question 41

In the context of employee selection,a situational judgment test

A)can measure how efficient a job applicant is in handling unanticipated obstacles.
B)contains items that ask an individual to give his or her attitude about lying.
C)strictly avoids asking open-ended questions.
D)is more susceptible to faking than other methods of testing.

Question 42

A(n)_____ is a type of job-screening examination that is designed to assess whether a candidate will be honest on the job.

A)integrity test
B)situational judgment test
C)projective test
D)authenticity test

Question 43

_____ are websites that employers use to advertise openings to recruit new hires.

A)Human resource management systems
B)Job reference pages
C)Job boards
D)Wikis

Question 44

In the process of being evaluated for a certain job position,Eric was asked to complete a test that questioned his attitude toward lying.After answering the questionnaire,Eric was told that this test was designed to determine how honest he would be on the job if he were selected.Eric was asked to take a(n)

A)intelligence test.
B)projective test.
C)integrity test.
D)situational judgment test.

Question 45

Which of the following tests is used by an employer to assess a job candidate's adaptability?

A)an integrity test
B)an intelligence test
C)a projective test
D)a situational judgment test

Question 46

Pablo,Harry's boss,has just finished interviewing a potential new employee.Pablo tells Harry that it only takes him a few minutes to accurately assess a person's strengths and weaknesses.Pablo is confident that the candidate he just interviewed is an honest and hardworking individual.Which of the following tendencies has Pablo exhibited in this instance?

A)normative commitment
B)interviewer illusion
C)the Hawthorne effect
D)interviewer bias

Question 47

Bruce and Grant apply for work at the same company.Bruce is interviewed using a structured interview format,while Grant is interviewed using an unstructured interview format.Both men are hired.Will the employer be able to predict their future job performance based on how each of them performed in their respective interviews?

A)No,interviews are not good predictors of future job performance.
B)The employer will be better able to predict Bruce's future job performance.
C)The employer will be better able to predict Grant's future job performance.
D)The employer will be able to predict both Bruce's and Grant's future job performance equally well.

Question 48

In the context of conducting interviews,_____ refers to interviewers' mistaken tendency to believe in their own ability to discern the truth from a job applicant.

A)interviewer burden
B)interviewer variance
C)interviewer effect
D)interviewer illusion

Question 49

Which of the following is true of an employee selection interview?

A)An interview only reveals whether an interviewee is qualified for a job but does not disclose aspects of his cognitive ability.
B)During an interview,an interviewee may display a lot of different qualities,not all of which are relevant to the position in question.
C)Most interviewers,during interviews,hone their social skills,as these skills are mandatory for every job.
D)During an interview,an interviewer and an interviewee tend to have the same goal.

Question 50

"If you receive an extra cheeseburger when you go through the drive-thru,is it okay to keep it?" In the context of the employee selection process,this could be a question from a(n)

A)intelligence test.
B)ability test.
C)integrity test.
D)situational judgment test.

Question 51

A key drawback with the use of tests to screen individuals for desirable characteristics is that

A)prospective candidates can fake a good impression.
B)it is an expensive procedure.
C)employers require extensive training to make accurate assessments.
D)it is a time-consuming procedure.

Question 52

Bruce is the owner of Orion Inc. ,a manufacturer of electronic gadgets.He wants to hire the most honest job applicants as marketing executives for the company.In the context of employee selection,it can be inferred that Bruce is likely to employ a(n)_____ to assess the honesty levels of the job applicants.

A)situational judgment test
B)integrity test
C)job analysis
D)structured interview

Question 53

Which of the following statements is true of a job description?

A)It is more formal than a job analysis.
B)It is generally of interest to job seekers.
C)It is more exact than a job analysis.
D)It is also known as a job evaluation.

Question 54

Job analysis provides information that is useful to all of the following EXCEPT

A)job seekers who are looking for jobs to match their skills and interests.
B)personnel officers who are making hiring decisions.
C)lawyers who are considering fairness in job requirements.
D)analysts who determine market wages and pay rates for occupations.

Question 55

"I am a good judge of character and rely on my gut feeling in selecting candidates." This statement from a human resource personnel exemplifies the concept of

A)interviewer effect.
B)interviewer variance.
C)interviewer burden.
D)interviewer illusion.

Question 56

In the context of employee selection,a(n)_____ means that a potential candidate for an opening was identified through current or former employees' social networks.

A)referral
B)intern
C)fresher
D)referee

Question 57

In the context of employee selection,which of the following types of tests presents job candidates with realistic,hypothetical scenarios and asks them to identify the most appropriate response?

A)a situational judgment test
B)a self-report test
C)the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
D)the implicit association test (IAT)

Question 58

Which of the following is most likely the strongest predictor of success at a job?

A)conformity
B)honesty
C)close-mindedness
D)general intelligence

Question 59

Allen has been working as a senior software engineer for over three years.He was recommended by his project lead for the role of an associate project lead.Unfortunately,management decided that Allen does not have the competencies required for the role of an associate project lead.In this scenario,which of the following was most likely used by management in the decision-making process?

A)job analysis
B)job enlargement
C)job rotation
D)job evaluation

Question 60

Marilyn has a walking disability.She needs a wheelchair to move around.In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)of 1990,if she is hired for a new job,the company must

A)compensate her for the costs of a functional workplace wheelchair.
B)limit her job responsibilities accordingly.
C)make accommodations to allow her to do the job.
D)hire an assistant to assist with her mobility issues.

Question 61

Which of the following statements is true regarding the mentoring process in the workplace?

A)An assigned mentor is as effective as a natural mentor.
B)An incompetent mentor may be worse than having no mentor at all.
C)Mentoring can develop naturally for women in fields that are dominated by men.
D)A natural mentor is less likely to dedicate himself to new workers than an assigned one.

Question 62

During the annual performance appraisal,Jill's supervisor gives her a "9" on a scale of "1" to "10" for all the assessment items.Jill's colleagues,however,are aware that Jill's efficiency was more like a "6" on the "1-to- 10" scale even though her work quality was a "9." Which of the following biases has been exhibited by Jill's supervisor in this instance?

A)the Hawthorne effect
B)the halo effect
C)interviewer's illusion
D)stereotyping

Question 63

In the context of training,which of the following is true of computer-based and in-person orientation programs?

A)Most organizations avoid using computer-based orientation programs as they are more expensive.
B)Studies suggest that in-person orientation programs fall short on social factors.
C)Computer-based orientation programs give new employees a good sense of the social culture of their new workplace.
D)Both computer-based orientation programs and in-person orientation programs provide new employees with information about the company.

Question 64

Susan's boss is evaluating her performance at work.Susan is known for her ability to complete large volumes of work in short periods of time.She also has excellent time management skills,is good at prioritizing and delegating tasks.In addition to these strengths,Susan also has certain weaknesses.For instance,she fails to pay attention to detail and tends to make many errors.Susan's boss,however,gives her very similar scores for productivity,efficiency,and accuracy.Which of the following phenomena has been exemplified in this scenario?

A)the placebo effect
B)organizational citizenship behavior
C)the halo effect
D)the Hawthorne effect

Question 65

Cathy and the other new employees of Oblivion Corp.were introduced to the company and its managers on their first day of work.After attending a presentation on the company norms,the employees were given a brief tour of the office.Such a program is an example of a(n)

A)interview.
B)orientation.
C)job evaluation.
D)exercise.

Question 66

Joe and Larry are employed at the same telecommunications company.Their manager has just conducted objective assessments of their sales of complex data products during the first quarter.Larry sold more products than Joe.Subjectively,however,Joe is considered to be easier to work with.Which of the following is an implication for the manager in conducting Joe and Larry's respective performance appraisals?

A)The manager should focus only on the highest number of total sales.
B)The manager should include subjective ratings by supervisors or a panel of experts.
C)The manager should lay emphasis on the quality of work and ignore the sales numbers.
D)The manager should consider only the cancellations and disregard the numbers of sales.

Question 67

The _____ refers to a bias,common in performance appraisals,that occurs when a rater gives an employee the same rating on all of the items being evaluated,even though the individual varies across the dimensions being assessed.

A)primacy effect
B)placebo effect
C)Hawthorne effect
D)halo effect

Question 68

_____ refers to discretionary actions on the part of an employee that promote institutional effectiveness but are not included in the person's formal responsibilities.

A)Continuance commitment
B)Job crafting
C)Mentoring
D)Organizational citizenship behavior

Question 69

The evaluation of a person's success at meeting his or her organization's goals is known as

A)performance appraisal.
B)orientation.
C)job crafting.
D)job analysis.

Question 70

Jerry has been working as a risk analyst with JLM Corp.for over two years.His manager asks him to attend a training program on a new risk management tool that the company intends to use.In this scenario,Jerry's participation in the training program best exemplifies the concept of

A)employee assistance program (EAP).
B)mentoring.
C)employee development.
D)orientation.

Question 71

Harry works for Mint Corp.As part of his performance appraisal,he receives feedback from his mentee,his colleagues,his supervisor,and customers.This method of performance appraisal is known as

A)180-degree feedback.
B)90-degree feedback.
C)360-degree feedback.
D)270-degree feedback.

Question 72

In Zephyr Corp. ,employees were rated for their performance by their immediate supervisor during performance appraisal.As this led to a biased rating system,management implemented a new system of performance evaluation.The new system at Zephyr allows employees to be rated for their performance by their peers,managers,supervisors,and clients.It also allows employees to rate themselves.According to this scenario,it can be inferred that Zephyr's new system of performance evaluation uses a method called

A)270-degree feedback.
B)360-degree feedback.
C)180-degree feedback.
D)90-degree feedback.

Question 73

In the context of employee training,a workplace mentor is a(n)

A)new employee.
B)trainee.
C)inexperienced employee.
D)experienced employee.

Question 74

Ryan works as a software engineer at Sysinfo Inc. ,a software firm.He usually comes in early for work and stays late,beyond the normal working hours.He also assists his colleagues with assignments when they approach him for help.In this scenario,Ryan's conduct exemplifies

A)organizational citizenship behavior.
B)the Hawthorne effect.
C)the halo effect.
D)continuance commitment.

Question 75

Teaching a new employee the essential requirements to do the job well is known as

A)training.
B)arbitration.
C)affirmative action.
D)offshoring.

Question 76

Which of the following is true of a structured interview?

A)A structured interview facilitates spontaneity and gives priority to competent candidates with job experience.
B)A structured interview is less superior to an unstructured interview in terms of predicting eventual job performance.
C)A disadvantage of conducting a structured interview is that it can hinder a job candidate's performance during an interview.
D)A structured interview puts all candidates on equal footing and gives them all the same chance to demonstrate their skill.

Question 77

A(n)_____ is a program by which an organization introduces newly hired employees to an organization's goals,familiarizes them with its rules and regulations,and lets them know how to get things done.

A)performance appraisal
B)integrity test
C)orientation
D)interview

Question 78

Dave,a graphic designer,has applied for a job at Animatrix Co. ,an animation studio.When he is called for the interview,Dave is asked to carry his portfolio along with him.His portfolio contains copies of the brochures,illustrations,and advertisements that he has designed.In this scenario,Dave's graphic portfolio is an example of a(n)

A)structured interview
B)work sample
C)exercise
D)integrity test

Question 79

Which of the following positions requires the most extensive training?

A)software engineer
B)home health aide
C)airline pilot
D)massage therapist

Question 80

_____ is a relationship between an experienced employee and a novice in which the more experienced employee serves as an advisor,a sounding board,and a source of support for the newer employee.

A)Mentoring
B)Orientation
C)Normative commitment
D)Continuance commitment