What is I-O?

Industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology is the scientific study of the workplace. Rigor and methods of psychology are applied to issues of critical relevance to business, including talent management, coaching, assessment, selection, training, organizational development, performance, and work-life balance.

An Open Invitation to APA Division 14 Members

My commitment as APA president is to use grass roots input as the foundation for planning. I invite all Division 14 members, other psychologists and other professionals to help me brainstorm. Brainstorming involves establishing the basis for future plans by creating as many different suggestions, without limiting such creative thinking in any way (such as whether the idea is feasible, too "far out," etc.).

I have two major interests: a) ethnic minority or multicultural issues, and b) cancer. I invite you to brainstorm as a grass roots think tank to generate ideas about how we might meet these two themes—either separately or combined.

For example regarding what we might do relating to minority issues, some examples of ideas:

• Identify and document epidemiological data specific to cancer among ethnic minority populations
• Develop a directory of psychologists doing multicultural training in different regions
• Develop fact sheets of scientific knowledge for addressing issues such as affirmative action, bilingualism and educational achievement, stereotyping and stress in the workplace
• Organize a roundtable at the APA convention specifically for minority students to directly meet minority leaders, and/or to obtain information on graduate programs with multicultural curricula
• Provide consultation to state psychological associations with suggestions written by associations who have a record of significantly increasing minority membership
• Make APA a more welcoming place by introducing a monthly column in the Monitor highlighting a psychologist of color
• Provide members of the four Ethnic Minority Psychological Associations with a reduced membership rate for joining APA in their first year

Regarding cancer, some examples of ideas:

• Develop coalitions with other professional organizations such as....
• Organize a public meeting prior to the APA convention at a community building, with panelists who are psychologists, nurses, insurance representatives, and so forth, to address the public’s questions about what to expect from cancer, psychological interventions for side effects, needs of family as supporters, how to make decisions, research findings, and so forth
• Write a series of feature articles for media releases and for the APA Monitor that informs the public about the many ways in which psychologists contribute to cancer issues
• Develop plans for funding through federal agencies aiming at a goal of integrating scientific knowledge, community education, and training of psychologists and other health professionals regarding psychological aspects of cancer
• List research programs in a document organized by type of cancer, or by other classification (research on vulnerability, on treating side effects, on prolonging survival, on quality of life, on medical decision-making, etc.)
• Write brochures that help patients deal with the psychological impact of cancer or offer a Web-site information help line connected to experts
• Suggest curricula for training of psychologists to work with cancer

These are but a few examples that illustrate the broad range of potential action-ideas that I am encouraging. Out of such brainstorming will evolve plans, some of which I may be able to achieve alone, many of which may demand a partnership with you to take the lead on some elements. We can readily identify the problems; what we need is to brainstorm possible actions that move us toward possible solutions!

When you brainstorm, think also about how we can do coalition building. Note that one of the sample ideas speaks to connecting with nonpsychology professionals. Should we be considering a coalition with nurses, with community organizations, and so forth—which ones, and how can they help us and we help them on these topics?

As you think about, dream about, have a sudden insight about, brainstorm ideas for either or both themes, send them on to me before you forget. Be sure to identify yourself, and how I can contact you in the future. Feel free to distribute this invitation broadly to others. Mahalo!

You can reach me at:

e-mail: Suinn@Lamar.colostate.edu

snail-mail address: Dept. of Psychology, Colorado State University,

Ft.Collins, C0 80523

 

phone messages: (970) 491-1351