Industrial-Organizational Psychology has become the fastest growing field in psychology. Yet, chances are your Introductory Psychology course doesn’t cover it. While there are a multitude of reasons I-O isn’t typically covered in Introductory Psychology courses (not in textbook/curriculum, lack of time, etc.), one big reason is that instructors don’t necessarily consider it a “foundational component” of general psychology.
A recent survey, I conducted showed that 76 percent of respondents did not cover I-O in their courses. More shockingly, 43 percent of respondents did not want to receive free resources on how to incorporate I-O in to their courses. When asked why not, one respondent stated “It [I-O] is not a primary area, from my perspective, in a General Psych course”. Another respondent stated “Currently we have access to materials if need be, it just hasn’t been a major topic of interest”. Not a major topic of interest? To the instructor or the students?
When contemplating whether or not to highlight content outside of the norm, decisions are usually quick and simple; go with what the textbook includes because it highlights what’s “most important” or cover material you’re comfortable teaching. Unfortunately, this is not always what’s best for a student’s education and professional growth within a particular field. I’m constantly challenging myself to make evidence-based decisions on what should be included in my courses.
So, why should you cover I-O in your Introductory Psychology course?
One primary reason is that it perfectly aligns with the various learning goals outlined in APA’s Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology Major.
Goal 1 (Knowledge Base in Psychology):
- Introductory Psychology should give students an idea of the many diverse specialties within the field. As such, I-O broadens a student’s knowledge and understanding of psychology’s application (social dynamics, personality, learning, mental health) in various contexts.
Goal 2 (Scientific Inquiry and Critical Thinking):
- The main goal of I-O is to apply the scientific method to investigate issues of critical relevance to individuals, businesses, and society. Therefore, I-O can assist students to engage in innovative and integrative thinking and problem-solving as it relates to various workplace dynamics.
Goal 3 (Ethical and Social Responsibility in a Diverse World):
- Overall, I-O promotes the adoption of personal and professional values that can strengthen community relationships and contributions (e.g., Humanitarian Work Psychology). This is evident in the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology’s mission; to enhance human well-being and performance in organizational and work settings by promoting the science, practice, and teaching of I-O Psychology.
Goal 4 (Communication):
- Since I-O is an applied science, its audiences vary; researchers, academics, organizations, managers, etc. Because of this students are able to understand that writing content differ based on purpose (e.g., business memos, research papers, journal articles) and audience. Additionally, I-O covers research on the need for diversity and inclusion in the workplace, highlighting the need for students to interact sensitively with people of diverse abilities, backgrounds, and cultural perspectives.
Goal 5 (Professional Development):
- Strapp et. al (2017) highlights that “psychology students may struggle to see the direct connection between their academic training and a specific career title”. Additionally, they “often rate themselves low in preparedness for entering the job market and display the lowest satisfaction ratings for job preparation relative to other aspects of their undergraduate experience”. As such, understanding I-O can be extremely beneficial in navigating the world of work, an important skill for students who are starting their careers. Additionally, I-O is the #1 fastest growing occupation in the United States, with a growth rate of 53 percent between 2014 and 2022. According to US News and World Report, I-O is the #2 best science job, #19 best STEM job, and #79 best overall job! Who knows, including I-O may be the reason a student decides to pursue psychology as career.
Hopefully, I’ve made a compelling case for why you should include I-O into your Introductory Psychology course(s). If you are interested in practical tips on how to include I-O content despite facing the barriers I mentioned earlier (lack of time, not in curriculum/textbook, etc.), I encourage you to read my previous Psych Learning Curve article – Incorporating I-O Psychology into Introductory Psychology.
