IO Psychology & Program Evaluation Careers?

[UndecidedMan]

Hello Everyone,

I'm trying to gauge whether IO Psychology might be right for me. I did some research and had a somewhat difficult time extrapolating what IO Psychologists can do. Many resources indicate companies that their graduates go on to work towards, or websites that explain in general a IO Psychologist looks at a person in the context of work (whether that's worker improvement, retention, etc.).

My current job does lots of program evaluations for non-profits and I'm wondering if IO Psychologist do this as well, though for the private sector? More specifically, I'm wondering how this is done...is it through a consulting group filled with IO Psychologists, or do companies tend to have a few on staff at all times?

I guess I'm simply wondering about the specifics of a IO Psychologist and what his/her daily work might look like.

Thanks.

[Jameslv08]

I would recommend checking out the SIOP website. There are actually segments entitled "What Do I-O Psychologists Really Do?".

[UndecidedMan]

I would recommend checking out the SIOP website. There are actually segments entitled "What Do I-O Psychologists Really Do?".

Thanks. From what I gather is that you can do progam eval's and survey design either as a consultant or as someone who works for some large entity (e.g. navy).

Stemming from that, my take is that most IO's work near larger cities? I guess my next step is learning about job outlook, student debt, etc. and look into some more specifics.

I'm wondering for those that went into IO Psych... what made you decide you wanted to go to a IO Psych program?

[see_bella]

Check the dept of labor's website for more information on job outlook. Look under psychologists. If you like program evaluation you may want look into program evaluation phd programs at western michigan and usf (I actually did the one at usf, masters). I/O psychologists work in many different areas. Teaching, research, consulting, and working for a company. Like most research related fields it is is heavily quantitative so yes you would be able to do program evaluations, assessments, etc. as an I/O psychologist. It is a broad field, however and you will have to decide what YOUR interests are and where YOU would like to work. In general, I/O is the psychology of work and most efforts are aimed at creating a better work place/work solution for individuals. You may want to talk to your professors and a career counselor at your current school as well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_and_organizational_psychology this link gives really good but broad information about some of the areas of interests. My friend has a phd in I/O and she works for Raymond James which is a huge, multinational financial company as a measurement and analysis manager.

[UndecidedMan]

Check the dept of labor's website for more information on job outlook. Look under psychologists. If you like program evaluation you may want look into program evaluation phd programs at western michigan and usf (I actually did the one at usf, masters). I/O psychologists work in many different areas. Teaching, research, consulting, and working for a company. Like most research related fields it is is heavily quantitative so yes you would be able to do program evaluations, assessments, etc. as an I/O psychologist. It is a broad field, however and you will have to decide what YOUR interests are and where YOU would like to work. In general, I/O is the psychology of work and most efforts are aimed at creating a better work place/work solution for individuals. You may want to talk to your professors and a career counselor at your current school as well. http://en.wikipedia....onal_psychology this link gives really good but broad information about some of the areas of interests. My friend has a phd in I/O and she works for Raymond James which is a huge, multinational financial company as a measurement and analysis manager.

Thank you! I appreciate your input. I am going to look into those programs. My worry is that I want to make sure I can go into something that also has a sustainable career and is worth the cost of the program. I work at a research center and am involved with evaluations and love them currently, but am wondering how to break into doing evaluations for private companies, etc. and actually turn what I like to do, into something that I can make a living out of.

I originally wanted to go into clinical psychology, because of the prospects of being able to teach, research, and do clinical work. It seemed as if that was a good way of spreading yourself and ensuring security, but it looks like that may not be the case. As I started working more and more as a program evaluator, I have liked it more, and want to continue working in this field, but am having a hard time breaking away from the non-profit world.

[UndecidedMan]

So i'm still stuck trying to find programs that emphasize on program evaluation.

I know they exist, because even this article from the APA talks about the great growth in I/O and specifically mentioning Program Evaluation.

http://www.apa.org/monitor/2008/04/careers.aspx

However, when I try to find programs under psychology, they are far and few. When looking at the list under the american evaluation association, it is mostly programs filled with Educational departments.

http://www.eval.org/Training/university_programs.asp

I'm more lost now than I was in March. =/