Organisational Psychology

TheNibbler

I'm going into my third year of a psychology degree and haven't yet got any firm ideas of what to do after I'm finished. One of the subjects that I have choosen to do this year is organisational psychology. Just wondering if anyone could let me know a bit more about it, both as an area of psychology in general and as a profession?

JuliusCaesar

You'll find a lot of information from the PSI website, probably the BPS too; try looking up websites of OP companies like Pearn Kandola, DavittMahon, GFP Consult etc etc. I don't know anything much about it myself and so am just giving you some pointers as noone else replied!

Jelmpsych

Hi Guy's, my name is Jerry Dixon, and I am the Hon Secretary of DWOP (Division of Work and Organisational Psychology) of the PSI (Psychological Society of Ireland). I'm a work and org. psychologist specialising in re-employment psychology and career development, and an associate lecturer with the Open University. I work in the community sector (by choice - good source of reserach particiapants) funded by a state organisation. I lecture with various HE, and Professional bodies.

What's your question ?;)

Valmont

Jelmpsych wrote:

Hi Guy's, my name is Jerry Dixon, and I am the Hon Secretary of DWOP (Division of Work and Organisational Psychology) of the PSI (Psychological Society of Irealnd). I'm a work and org. psychologist specialising in re-employment psychology and career development. What's your question ?;)

Great, all we need now is a counselling psychologist on the forum and that's all the bases covered!

I'm only going into second year but I'd like to know about entry requirements
for Work and organisational psychology postgrads and what sort of work do you do on a day to day basis? Are you self employed?

p.pete

I'd be very interested to know how easy (relatively at least ) it is to get funding for research / further study if one were to decide to go down the organisational psychology route?

I see it as being an area of huge benifit to almost any company, but not necesarily something that gets actively invested in...

Any input you have Jelmpsych would be hugely interesting to the forum!

Jelmpsych

Valmont wrote:

Great, all we need now is a counselling psychologist on the forum and that's all the bases covered!

I'm only going into second year but I'd like to know about entry requirements
for Work and organisational psychology postgrads and what sort of work do you do on a day to day basis? Are you self employed?

You'd have to check each university since they vary between academic x related work experience. However, W/O psych tends to have slightly larger intakes than a lot of other masters in psych.

Work varies considerably from recruitment consultancy, internal recruitment, selection, leadership training, re-employment, community development, organisational change and development etc. However, these roles are not always exclusive to W/O psych's - CIPD practitioners often aim for these roles as well. Hope this helps.

Jerry

Jelmpsych

p.pete wrote:

I'd be very interested to know how easy (relatively at least ) it is to get funding for research / further study if one were to decide to go down the organisational psychology route?

I see it as being an area of huge benifit to almost any company, but not necesarily something that gets actively invested in...

Any input you have Jelmpsych would be hugely interesting to the forum!

What's your selling technique like ?, and how good of a politician are you ? (It is not quite as easy as it seems). Alternatively seek employment with a research company who often get appraoched by large organisations. If it's for a P.Hd., some universities will publish what area's they are interested in developing (normally in relation to the interests of the academic staff).

The problem is that research findings often prompt change - which costs, or exposes flaws which would prefer to be left buried (You'd be surprised how may reports are left to gather dust on a shelf). Bear in mind the stakeholder must like the findings if the research is going to go anywhere - anything related to improved performance at low cost / little disruption normally attracts attention. There would also tend to be a slight bias towards quantitative methodologies (it's easier for the accountants to get their heads around). Hope this helps, Jerry.

mrsmallblind

Hi

Im very interested in getting into this field now that ive completed my degree. i am looking for advice on work experience that would help me get a masters in DCU, since i work for AIB