Work Psychology in Action

by Anna Sutton

Chapter review questions

Click on the hyperlinks below to jump to the review questions for each chapter.

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12

Chapter 1

  1. Outline the steps of the scientific method and illustrate its applications to psychology with an example.
  2. List the main theoretical areas of psychology. For one of these areas, describe an example of how psychological research or theory can be applied to the world of work.
  3. What is the difference between theoretical and applied psychology?
  4. Briefly outline the eight areas of knowledge that the BPS expects of occupational psychologists.
  5. Describe three main arenas for business studies and briefly outline how they are related to psychology.
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Chapter 2

  1. What is a competency framework?
  2. Define reliability and explain why it is important in selection.
  3. List and describe the different types of validity.
  4. What is the difference between behavioural and situational interviews?
  5. How would you define adverse impact?
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Chapter 3

  1. List the different types of standardised performance measures that can be used in organisations and give an example of each.
  2. What is 360° appraisal and what is it best used for?
  3. Distinguish between training, development and learning.
  4. What is the difference between behaviourism and social learning?
  5. When is it best to use massed and spaced practice?
  6. List three training methods and their associated advantages and disadvantages.
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Chapter 4

  1. What is non-financial employment commitment and why is it important in understanding motivation?
  2. How would you define motivation?
  3. Briefly summarise Hackman and Oldham's five core job characteristics. How has this model been extended?
  4. Name and define McClelland's three implicit needs.
  5. What is the High Performance Cycle?
  6. Define job satisfaction and explain why it is important in the study of motivation.
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Chapter 5

  1. Briefly define the five different theoretical approaches to communication.
  2. List the non-verbal communication channels.
  3. What structural dimensions influence communication in organisations?
  4. What is 'paralanguage' and what role does it play in communication?
  5. What is the difference between dread and wish rumours?
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Chapter 6

  1. Distinguish a 'real' from 'pseudo' team.
  2. List five types of teams with examples of each.
  3. What are two different ways of measuring team composition?
  4. Briefly outline two emergent states that affect team performance.
  5. What positive impacts does teamwork have on an organisation?
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Chapter 7

  1. How would you define leadership?
  2. How are the Big Five traits related to (a) leader emergence and (b) leader effectiveness?
  3. Briefly outline the central proposition of LMX theory (Leader-Member Exchange).
  4. What are the four leader behaviours in path-goal theory?
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Chapter 8

  1. What is the difference between planned and emergent change?
  2. Briefly outline Lewin's three-stage model of change.
  3. What is the advantage of a learning organisation in managing change?
  4. List some of the positive and negative personal triggers for change and explain why they are important in understanding how organisational change impacts on individuals.
  5. What are the four main sources of resistance to change, according to Kotter and Schlesinger?
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Chapter 9

  1. What is the General Adaptation Syndrome?
  2. What is the role of cognitive appraisal in the stress response?
  3. What is the difference between burnout and engagement?
  4. List six potential hazards at work.
  5. What is hardiness and how does it relate to stress management?
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Chapter 10

  1. What are the valued subjective experiences that positive psychology attempts to investigate?
  2. How does Seligman define the three paths to happiness?
  3. Outline the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions.
  4. Contrast weakness-based development.
  5. Define a 'flow' experience.
  6. How is spirituality different from religion?
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Chapter 11

  1. What are the two main areas of human-computer interaction research?
  2. List the four principles for interface design suggested by Oviatt.
  3. Briefly outline the advantages and disadvantages of mobile remote presence (MRP) systems in the workplace.
  4. Contrast instrumental and stimulating risk-taking.
  5. What is social customer relationship management?
  6. What are the six components of the coaching process?
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Chapter 12

  1. Briefly outline the five steps in the research process.
  2. What is a systematic review and why can it be helpful to practitioners?
  3. Define an experimental study.
  4. What is the Hawthorne effect?
  5. Why is sample size important in research?
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