Question 1

Work is LEAST likely to be experienced as a positive and fulfilling activity for those who

Accepted Answer

Individuals who view their work as just a job, rather than a career or calling, are less likely to find their work fulfilling or enjoyable.

Question 2

A person who spends far more time sharpening existing skills than correcting existing weaknesses

Accepted Answer

Someone who focuses on improving their existing skills is likely already satisfied and successful in their role. They see value in their current strengths and believe that investing time in honing those skills will lead to even greater success. This individual is likely self-motivated and dedicated, with a strong sense of responsibility to their organization and team.

Question 3

Dr.Wolfson develops assessment tools for use by company supervisors to make decisions about job promotions.His work best illustrates that of a(n)________ psychologist.

Accepted Answer

Personnel psychologists specialize in designing and evaluating assessment tools for making employment-related decisions, such as job promotions. Clinical psychologists work with individuals who have psychological disorders, organizational psychologists focus on enhancing workplace productivity and morale, and human factors psychologists study how people interact with technology and other products.

Question 4

Matching people with existing jobs is to ________ psychology as modifying jobs and supervision is to ________ psychology.

Accepted Answer

Matching people with existing jobs aligns with personnel psychology, which focuses on employee selection and evaluation, while modifying jobs and supervision relates to organizational psychology, which deals with the broader aspects of work environments and organizational structures.

Question 5

Human factors psychology is one of the three main subfields of

Accepted Answer

Human factors psychology is concerned with how people interact with technology and design in the workplace. As such, it falls under the broader subfield of industrial-organizational psychology, which focuses on applying psychological principles to improve workplace productivity and employee well-being. Clinical psychology primarily deals with diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders, while personnel psychology focuses on personnel selection, training, and evaluation. Social psychology examines how individuals interact with and influence one another in social situations.

Question 6

Improving employee morale and business profitability by developing a new chain of command between subdivisions of a large manufacturing company best illustrates the work of a

Accepted Answer

Organizational psychologists specialize in improving workplace productivity and morale through the development and implementation of more effective organizational structures and communication. This scenario specifically involves restructuring the company's chain of command to improve morale and profitability, which aligns with the work of an organizational psychologist.

Question 7

Personnel psychologists are most likely to be involved in

Accepted Answer

Personnel psychologists are primarily concerned with the selection, training, and development of employees. Matching people's strengths with specific job assignments falls under their area of expertise. Modifying work environments may involve industrial-organizational psychologists, while industrial engineers may contribute to the design of user-friendly industrial machines. Assessing the effect of supervisors' management styles on business productivity may involve both personnel and organizational psychologists.

Question 8

Designing aircraft instrument displays so pilots can easily and accurately monitor flight data would be of most direct interest to

Accepted Answer

Human factors psychology is concerned with designing systems and products that are safe, effective, and efficient for human use. Designing aircraft instrument displays that are easy to use and accurately convey flight data is an example of an application of human factors psychology.

Question 9

Matt is a student who becomes so fully absorbed in his course studies that he completely loses awareness of how long he has been working.Matt's experience best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Matt's experience best illustrates the concept of flow, where an individual becomes so fully immersed in an activity that they lose awareness of time and their surroundings. This is a common experience reported by individuals who are engaged in challenging and enjoyable activities, such as studying, playing music, or engaging in sports. Flow is a state of optimal experience where individuals feel a sense of control, focus, and enjoyment.

Question 10

Which profession is most likely to be concerned with the effect of supervisors' management styles on worker motivation and productivity?

Accepted Answer

Industrial-organizational psychology is the branch of psychology that deals with workplace dynamics, including issues related to job satisfaction, employee motivation, and productivity. Therefore, the focus on the effect of supervisors' management styles on worker motivation and productivity is most likely a concern of industrial-organizational psychologists. Developmental psychology studies how humans change and grow over the course of their lives, social psychology studies how people interact with one another, and cognitive psychology studies mental processes such as memory, attention, and problem-solving. While these fields may touch on workplace dynamics to some extent, they are not as directly focused on issues related to worker motivation and productivity in the same way that industrial-organizational psychology is.

Question 11

Danielle,an applicant for a position in corporate financial accounting,was so animated and enthusiastic in her conversations with company officials that they decided to hire her without carefully checking her résumé and past work accomplishments.The company officials should most clearly be informed about

Accepted Answer

The scenario described is an example of the interviewer illusion, where the interviewer is swayed by the applicant's likeability or charisma rather than a thorough evaluation of their qualifications and past performance. The company officials should be informed about the importance of conducting a more comprehensive assessment of an applicant's credentials before making a hiring decision.

Question 12

A performance evaluation program revealed that the most effective salespeople in a large company are sincere and energetic in their work.This led the company's psychological consultants to develop a simulation that would assess the extent to which applicants for company sales positions communicate in a forthright and animated manner.This most clearly illustrates the consultants' commitment to

Accepted Answer

The consultants' development of a simulation to assess specific traits (sincerity and energy) that correlate with effective performance in sales roles illustrates a commitment to a strengths-based selection system. This approach focuses on identifying and leveraging individuals' strengths during the hiring process.

Question 13

A high level of satisfaction with one's work is most likely to be reported by those who frequently experience

Accepted Answer

Flow refers to a state of complete immersion in a challenging and enjoyable task, where individuals lose track of time and become fully absorbed in what they are doing. Experiencing flow is often associated with high levels of satisfaction and fulfillment in one's work. Therefore, those who frequently experience flow are most likely to report a high level of satisfaction with their work. None of the other options are directly related to job satisfaction.

Question 14

Structured interviews have more ________ than unstructured interviews.

Accepted Answer

Structured interviews use standardized questions and scoring systems, resulting in increased predictive accuracy in terms of identifying the best candidate for a job. In contrast, unstructured interviews are more subjective and prone to leniency errors, where the interviewer may give higher ratings to candidates they personally like, rather than those who are most qualified. Democratic style and 360-degree feedback are not directly related to the benefits of structured interviews.

Question 15

Interviewers are disposed to judge job applicants more favorably when informed that the applicants

Accepted Answer

When interviewers are informed that job applicants have been prescreened by other company personnel, they are more likely to have confidence in the applicant's qualifications and suitability for the job. This can lead to a more favorable impression of the applicant overall. The other choices (A, C, and D) do not necessarily have a significant impact on the interviewer's evaluation of the applicant.

Question 16

Dr.Ford assesses people's personalities and interests and then matches them to vocations with a good person-environment fit.His specialty is

Accepted Answer

Dr. Ford's specialty is career counseling, as he matches people's personalities and interests to suitable vocations.

Question 17

Which of the following is generally the poorest predictor of future job performance?

Accepted Answer

Evaluations from informal interviews are generally the poorest predictor of future job performance because they are subjective and lack structure and standardization. Other methods such as aptitude tests, job knowledge tests, and simulated job performance tests are considered more reliable and objective predictors of job performance.

Question 18

Those who view their work as a fulfilling and socially useful activity are said to view work as a

Accepted Answer

The term "calling" is often used to describe work that is viewed as a fulfilling and socially useful activity, as opposed to simply a way to earn money (job) or advance professionally (career) or a temporary agreement (contract).

Question 19

Those who view their work as a calling report ________ work satisfaction than those who view their work as a job and ________ work satisfaction than those who view their work as a career.

Accepted Answer

This question is asking about the level of work satisfaction reported by individuals who view their work as a calling, job, or career. The question states that those who view their work as a calling report greater work satisfaction than those who view their work as a job. Additionally, it states that those who view their work as a calling report greater work satisfaction than those who view their work as a career. Therefore, the best choice is C, greater satisfaction for both comparisons.

Question 20

A psychological consultant develops a test that assesses the extent to which applicants for company sales positions communicate in an honest and animated manner.The consultant's work best illustrates that of a(n)

Accepted Answer

The development of a test to assess job applicants' communication style for sales positions is a task typically performed by a personnel psychologist, who specializes in the management and recruitment of employees.

Quiz 18: Psychology at Work