Deck 17: Psychology Applied to Work

Question 1

Cleo is a psychologist studying the ways in which different corporate systems and structures affect overall worker productivity. She is most likely a(n) ________ psychologist.

A) clinical
B) developmental
C) industrial/organizational
D) experimental

Answer 1

industrial/organizational

Question 2

Devon is a psychologist studying how lighting and temperature affects worker productivity at a local manufacturing plant. He is also interested in how management policies affect employee morale and retention. He is most likely a(n) ________ psychologist.

A) developmental
B) experimental
C) industrial/organizational
D) clinical

Answer 2

industrial/organizational

Question 3

The starting point for matching employees to jobs is a(n) ________.

A) job enhancement program
B) effective employee training program
C) job analysis
D) systems evaluation

Answer 3

job analysis

Question 4

Each of the following is a characteristic evaluated by a KSAO system of job analysis except ________.

A) skills
B) openness
C) abilities
D) knowledge

Question 5

Which of the following selection methods has the highest predictive validity?

A) a structured interview
B) a work sample test
C) graphology
D) cognitive ability

Question 6

In a functional job analysis, jobs are rated according to ________ basic dimensions.

A) four
B) three
C) two
D) five

Question 7

Professionals working in the subfield of ________ psychology are involved with managing human resources in organizations.

A) developmental
B) experimental
C) organizational
D) industrial

Question 8

The process of selecting from a pool of job applicants those who will be hired to perform a job is known as ________.

A) a KSAO system
B) personnel selection
C) a realistic job preview
D) a functional job analysis

Question 9

A method of conducting a job analysis that involves identifying the procedures and processes that workers use in the performance of the job and how the worker performs the job's tasks is a ________.

A) KSAO system
B) functional job analysis
C) performance rating system
D) realistic job preview

Question 10

A KSAO system of job analysis usually focuses on ________ categories of characteristics necessary to do a job well.

A) three
B) four
C) two
D) five

Question 11

The purpose of ________ is to hire applicants who will be the most productive employees.

A) a job enhancement program
B) personnel selection
C) a functional job analysis
D) job recategorization

Question 12

Cleo is a psychologist studying the various jobs in a local corporation to identify the knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform them. She is most likely a(n) ________ psychologist.

A) experimental
B) developmental
C) clinical
D) industrial/organizational

Question 13

Each of the following is one of the basic dimensions of a job rated by a functional job analysis except ________.

A) people
B) outcomes
C) things
D) data

Question 14

Breaking down a job into its most basic components to identify the most important components and thus the most important skills and abilities needed to perform the job is known as a ________.

A) realistic job preview
B) job analysis
C) job enrichment program
D) functional job analysis

Question 15

A method of job analysis that focuses on understanding the human characteristics required to perform a job successfully is known as a ________.

A) performance rating system
B) realistic job preview
C) KSAO system
D) functional job analysis

Question 16

Professionals working in the subfield of ________ psychology are involved with studying factors that affect the company or corporation as a whole, rather than on the individuals who work for them.

A) organizational
B) clinical
C) experimental
D) developmental

Question 17

The aspects of a job usually evaluated by a job analysis include the ________.

A) company philosophy and the work policies of management
B) work policies of management and the actual tasks performed by the workers
C) environment in which the work is done and the company philosophy
D) tasks performed by the workers and the human qualifications that are required to perform those tasks.

Question 18

The starting point for understanding how to match employees to jobs is ________.

A) the employment interview
B) personnel selection
C) human factors analysis
D) the enhanced training program

Question 19

The field of psychology that includes the scientific study of how individuals and organizations work, and of how psychological principles can be applied to such settings to improve their effectiveness is ________ psychology.

A) developmental
B) industrial/organizational
C) experimental
D) clinical

Question 20

A selection method that consists of asking questions to which the job applicant responds, either in a structured or an unstructured setting, is a(n) ________.

A) KSAO system
B) functional job analysis
C) employment interview
D) objective employment test

Question 21

A performance appraisal system is used to assess the ________.

A) quantity and quality of work contributed by each individual within an organization
B) appropriate scales of measurement to use in assessing sales figures
C) effectiveness of management training programs with older managers
D) best way to match employees with tasks that best suit their skills

Question 22

Of all the methods used in personnel selection, tests of cognitive ability have the ________ overall validity for predicting job performance, and the ________ financial cost associated with their use.

A) lowest; lowest
B) highest; highest
C) lowest; highest
D) highest; lowest

Question 23

An appraisal method that relies on judgments about the quality of work an employee contributes are known as a(n) ________ appraisal system.

A) interactive
B) objective
C) subjective
D) residual

Question 24

Conscientiousness is a valid predictor of job performance ________.

A) only in service professions
B) in all jobs
C) only in technical jobs
D) only among unskilled laborers

Question 25

Counting the number of goods produced, the number of pieces assembled, or the dollars of product sold, are examples of a(n) ________ appraisal system.

A) residual
B) objective
C) interactive
D) subjective

Question 26

The correlation between individual scores on a predictor variable and their subsequent performance on some criterion, such as job performance, as known as ________.

A) intrinsic coherency
B) predictive validity
C) predictive reliability
D) a meta-analysis

Question 27

Which of the following is not a type of measure of previous performance?

A) a work sample test
B) a reference check
C) an application
D) an assessment center

Question 28

Of all the methods used in personnel selection, ________ have the highest overall validity for predicting job performance.

A) tests of cognitive abilities
B) work sample tests
C) job knowledge tests
D) reference checks

Question 29

Research has shown tests of cognitive ability to be ________ and tests of personality characteristics to be ________ predictors of job performance.

A) highly valid; highly valid
B) invalid; highly valid
C) invalid; invalid
D) highly valid; invalid

Question 30

A method of appraisal based on quantitative measurement of the amount of work done is a(n) ________ appraisal system.

A) objective
B) residual
C) interactive
D) subjective

Question 31

People who score high on a test of conscientiousness turn out to be better workers than those who score low on the test. This test can be said to have high ________.

A) predictive reliability
B) a meta-analysis
C) intrinsic coherency
D) predictive validity

Question 32

When productivity can be measured directly, employers usually utilize a(n) ________ appraisal system.

A) objective
B) residual
C) subjective
D) interactive

Question 33

Among the "Big Five" personality traits, the one that has been most closely linked to job performance is ________.

A) conscientiousness
B) emotional stability
C) extraversion
D) openness to experience

Question 34

In general, the most effective combination of predictors for job performance includes each of the following except a(n) ________.

A) test of conscientiousness
B) test of general mental ability
C) integrity test
D) structured interview

Question 35

Which of the following is not one of the three (out of five) personality traits measured by integrity tests?

A) conscientiousness
B) openness to new experience
C) emotional stability
D) agreeableness

Question 36

Formal methods used to assess the quantity and quality of work contributed by each individual within an organization are called ________.

A) a meta analysis
B) a central tendency system
C) functional job analysis
D) a performance appraisal system

Question 37

The most frequently used method of personnel selection is a(n) ________.

A) structured interview
B) test of mental ability
C) application
D) integrity test

Question 38

A personnel director decides to use an objective test to measure which job applicants will be most likely to engage in counterproductive behavior in the workplace. She would be best served using a(n) ________.

A) integrity test
B) test of vocational ability
C) personality test
D) test of general mental ability

Question 39

Each of the following is true of employment tests except they ________.

A) are objective, greatly reducing the possibility of bias
B) allow companies to quickly screen many applicants
C) are less expensive than employment interviews
D) are not valid predictors of job performance

Question 40

A method used to select high level managers that places applicants in a simulated and highly structured group setting where they are given personnel tests and extensive interviews and they engage in various role playing activities is a(n) ________.

A) role rehearsal evaluation
B) application blank
C) assessment center
D) subjective appraisal system

Question 41

A training method that allows employees to learn techniques and behaviors in a simulated work place is ________.

A) job rotation
B) all-for-one training
C) vestibule training
D) an apprenticeship

Question 42

A performance appraisal method that specifies specific behaviors that would be associated with high performance, average performance, and substandard performance for the job being evaluated, arranges these behaviors into a rating scale, and matches the employee to the appropriate scaled behaviors that best correspond is the ________.

A) 360 degree evaluation
B) behaviorally anchored rating scale
C) Stanford-Binet scale
D) behavioral observation scale

Question 43

Which of the following is the proper sequence of steps in assessing an organization's training needs?

A) an organizational analysis, a persona analysis, and a task analysis
B) a task analysis, a person analysis, and an organizational analysis
C) a person analysis, a task analysis, and an organizational analysis
D) an organizational analysis, a task analysis, and a person analysis

Question 44

In the 1990s, of all new additions to the workforce in the U.S., about ________ percent were women.

A) 27
B) 67
C) 87
D) 47

Question 45

The step in assessing an organization's training needs in which the job duties that can be addressed through training are identified and the KSAOs required to perform those tasks successfully are examined, is the ________ analysis step.

A) person
B) focus
C) task
D) organizational

Question 46

Training simulators and computer based simulators are most crucial to ________ training.

A) job rotation
B) an apprenticeship
C) all-for-one
D) vestibule

Question 47

The step in assessing an organization's training needs in which the knowledge, skills, and current performance of workers to determine who needs additional training is examined is the ________ analysis step.

A) person
B) focus
C) organizational
D) task

Question 48

Apprenticeships and job rotation are types of ________ training.

A) vestibule
B) on-the-job
C) real-time
D) cooperative

Question 49

Assessing an organization's training needs is a ________ step process.

A) four
B) two
C) three
D) five

Question 50

A training method in which workers are trained to perform each of the different jobs in a supervisory unit is ________.

A) an apprenticeship
B) job rotation
C) all-for-one training
D) vestibule training

Question 51

The training method in which the employee being trained learns the new job tasks while actually performing the job is ________ training.

A) real-time
B) cooperative
C) on-the-job
D) vestibule

Question 52

The step in assessing an organization's training needs in which the company's goals are examined and problems are identified is the ________ analysis step.

A) person
B) focus
C) organizational
D) task

Question 53

In the 1990s, of all new additions to the workforce in the U.S., about ________ percent were non-white.

A) 65
B) 85
C) 25
D) 45

Question 54

Each of the following is a reason why it is important for organizations to offer programs in cultural diversity training except ________.

A) because of globalization, more employees are taking assignments abroad
B) diversity in the work force captures the benefits in creativity and problem-solving capabilities that a diverse work force provides
C) not maintaining an atmosphere that is fair and non-discriminatory for all employees puts companies at risk for anti-discrimination lawsuits
D) effective cultural diversity programs train all employees to be similar in their attitudes and behaviors

Question 55

Title ________ expressly prohibits discrimination against employees because of their membership in certain named protected classes.

A) III
B) IX
C) VII
D) V

Question 56

Today, ________ industrialized nations have developed legislation to guard against employment practices that otherwise would be considered discriminatory.

A) few
B) less than half
C) all
D) most

Question 57

Training that helps people understand how people from other cultures think and act, and how to adjust their own attitudes and actions so all employees can work effectively in a multi-cultural work environment is ________ training.

A) corporate culture
B) cultural diversity
C) cultural relativism
D) organizational justice

Question 58

Generally, evaluations based on ________ are least prone to error.

A) beliefs
B) behaviors
C) intentions
D) attitudes

Question 59

Teachers, managers, nurses, and other professionals who do work that cannot be numerically counted are most likely to be evaluated using a(n) ________ appraisal system.

A) residual
B) interactive
C) objective
D) subjective

Question 60

A sweeping set of laws and regulations aimed at protecting the rights of people who had, because they were members of certain racial, ethnic, or religious groups, experienced discrimination, is the ________.

A) Taft-Hartley Act
B) Civil Rights Act of 1964
C) Wagner Act
D) McCain-Feingold Bill

Question 61

The theory that work behavior that is followed by positive outcomes will be maintained and repeated is ________ theory.

A) expectancy
B) reinforcement
C) goal-setting
D) equity

Question 62

Job ________ refers to the degree of pleasure an employee derives from his or her job.

A) enrichment
B) satisfaction
C) compliance
D) enhancement

Question 63

A recent study found that about ________ percent of organizations experienced sustainable improvements in worker productivity through reinforcement.

A) 70
B) 50
C) 30
D) 90

Question 64

The theory that worker motivation requires clearly stated goals and a belief that good job performance will lead to the attainment of these goals is ________ theory.

A) equity
B) reinforcement
C) expectancy
D) goal-setting

Question 65

Behaviors that involve either soliciting sexual favors in exchange for favorable treatment or creating a hostile work environment are known as ________.

A) sexual harassment
B) restrictive trade practices
C) Title VII violations
D) role conflicts

Question 66

The theory that worker motivation depends on the relationship between personal effort expended and rewards received when compared to that of other workers is ________ theory.

A) expectancy
B) goal-setting
C) equity
D) reinforcement

Question 67

Each of the following is a reason that team-based approaches have been gaining in popularity in recent years except ________.

A) the modern workforce is better educated and thus better prepared to perform complex decision-making functions
B) most jobs now require flexible approaches to rapidly changing technologies and business climates
C) businesses exist in a complex, interconnected environment in which no employee can know or master everything needed to run a successful enterprise
D) researchers have found that because of factors like groupthink and risky shift, groups tend to make more effective decisions than individuals

Question 68

Research suggests that people who work in teams are ________ satisfied with their work and ________ productive.

A) more; less
B) less; less
C) less; more
D) more; more

Question 69

Organizational constructs concerned with the fair treatment of people in organizations is called organizational ________.

A) enrichment
B) culture
C) justice
D) enhancement

Question 70

A sense of fairness in the workplace is known as ________.

A) affirmation
B) equity
C) efficacy
D) expectancy

Question 71

Edson offers his female secretary a raise and promotion in return for having sex with him. His behavior is an example of ________ sexual harassment.

A) forceful abuse
B) quid pro quo
C) personal relationship
D) hostile work environment

Question 72

The theory that worker motivation depends on the expectation that by working hard they will achieve valued rewards is ________ theory.

A) goal-setting
B) response
C) expectancy
D) equity

Question 73

Job ________ is determined by the degree to which employees feel their expectations about their jobs are met.

A) enhancement
B) compliance
C) enrichment
D) satisfaction

Question 74

Each of the following is a leadership characteristic that seems to be effective across different types of organizational settings except ________.

A) having a vision
B) being charismatic
C) exuding confidence
D) being task oriented

Question 75

Edson constantly tells offensively sexist jokes in front of the women with whom he works. He also teases them about their clothing and their bodies, and keeps pictures of nude centerfolds posted in his office. His behavior is an example of ________ sexual harassment.

A) casual relationship
B) hostile work environment
C) quid pro quo
D) insensitivity

Question 76

When workers are paid according to their performance, their sense of autonomy is ________ and their sense of control over their work is ________.

A) enhanced; enhanced
B) enhanced; decreased
C) decreased; decreased
D) decreased; enhanced

Question 77

Job satisfaction is ________ predictive of productivity.

A) not
B) slightly
C) highly
D) moderately

Question 78

The formal and informal rules, procedures, and expectations that define the values, attitudes, beliefs, and customs of an organization is called organizational ________.

A) norms
B) culture
C) justice
D) atmosphere