Personnel Psychology, sometimes called Industrial Psychology, is a subfield of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. It is the field of study that concentrates on the selection and evaluation of employees. This area of psychology deals with job analysis. It defines and measures job performance, performance appraisal, employment tests, employment interviews, employee selection and employee training, and human factors. Personnel psychology:
- Analyzes corporate culture and individual and group interactions.
- Develops and evaluates employee selection and appraisal techniques.
- Assesses corporate leadership and employee motivation strategies.
- Identifies causes and resolutions to internal conflicts.
- Advises management of the potential psychological and social impact of corporate policies.
- Researches ways organizations can effectively manage cultural differences and leadership styles.
- Defines, develops, and/or assesses global leadership competencies/experiences.
Personnel psychologists work in a variety of settings, including education, business, community, and agency environments. Normally training in personnel psychology requires a master’s degree or Ph.D. Many personnel psychologists serve as human resources specialists, helping organizations with staffing, training, and employee development and management in areas such as strategic planning, quality management, and adjustments to organization changes. Personnel psychologists apply psychological theories and principles to organizations. This field focuses on increasing workplace productivity and related issues such as the physical and mental well being of employees. Personnel psychologists use psychological measurement and research findings related to human abilities, motivation, perception, and learning in seeking to improve the fit between the needs of the work organization and those of the people who populate it.
A meta-analysis of selection methods in personnel psychology found that general mental ability was the best overall predictor of job performance and training performance.