What is I-O?

University of Connecticut

During breakfast at last year’s doctoral consortium in Dallas, Steven Rogelberg said something that made me stop in mid-chew to look around. He advised those of us in attendance to make an effort to get to know one another over the course of the day because the people in the room would be our colleagues for the rest of our lives. That’s really something to consider when you are thinking of attending SIOP. I think many students (myself included) spend so much time trying (a) to get to every session in the program, and (b) to meet as many "I-O legends" as we can, that we don’t really think about getting to know our peers. The doctoral consortium is an excellent opportunity to meet your future colleagues AND a few "I-O legends" before the Conference even starts.

If you’re new to SIOP or to the SIOP Conference, you may not even realize that there is such a thing as a doctoral consortium. Every year on the day before the annual SIOP Conference officially begins, there is a doctoral consortium. This is a gathering of doctoral students who are near the end of their training. The consortium features several speakers from applied and academic areas of I-O and usually a chance for students to pepper these people with questions.

The first doctoral consortium was held in 1986. Back then, SIOP had its primary meeting at the annual APA convention, so the very first doctoral consortium was held the day before the APA convention. According to Eugene Stone-Romero, who was the SIOP Education and Training Chair at that time, the doctoral consortium was initiated for several reasons. First, to get doctoral students interested in long-term association with SIOP and its members. Also, to give students a chance to meet some of the leaders in our field and to expose students to SIOP members who were active in either science or practice. Finally, the originators felt that the consortium might serve to suggest areas for dissertation research for those students who had not yet chosen a topic. Steven Rogelberg, who was active in planning the consortium for the last 2 years, adds that it is also a chance for students to meet each other and to get some guidance on careers.

Let me tell you about last year’s consortium so that you will have a better idea of what it is all about. Last year, Jim Breaugh was the breakfast speaker. The focus of his advice was on the importance of balancing your career with the rest of your life. A phrase he used often, which has stuck with me since then, was to "have passion" for whatever it is you choose to do in your life and in your career. Following breakfast, the group split up. Half of the attendees heard Ann Marie Ryan offer advice about combining academic research and consulting practice. The other half of the group heard Steve Gilliland speak about advances in research in the area of organizational justice. Then came lunch. The Conference was in Dallas, so it was no surprise that a Tex-Mex fajita buffet was served. While we ate, John Hollenbeck gave an enlightening talk on publishing in general and publishing in Personnel Psychology in particular. After stuffing ourselves with guacamole and tortillas, we waddled off to separate rooms to hear either Jerry Kehoe or Joan Brannick speak about internal and external consulting, respectively. The two speakers then brought us back together to give a joint talk on consulting and to answer questions. Finally, at day’s end, all of the speakers formed a panel and fielded questions from the attendees. As you might imagine from a bunch of doctoral candidates, most of the questions were about jobs, job searches, and careers.

At this point it’s probably redundant to tell you what you would have taken away from last year’s consortium, but let me tell you the two main things that I, personally, got out of going. First, I met a lot of other doctoral students from all over the place. We spent quite a bit of time talking to one another about dissertations, future plans, and differences in our doctoral programs. Second, I thought that every speaker was worthwhile and, even better, informative. At this stage in my career, I’ll take all the advice I can get from people who have "made it" in our field.

If your curiosity has been peaked, and you’re interested in attending the 1999 Doctoral Consortium, here’s how participant selection works. In January (that’d be about now), when the information about the Conference is mailed out, your school will get information about the consortium. Each school can nominate one student and one alternate to attend the consortium. The nomination process might be slightly different at each school, but generally you will need to be at or very near the dissertation stage of your training. There is some monetary cost associated with going (last year it was $35), but the investment is likely to yield high returns. The 1999 doctoral consortium promises to be every bit as good as last year’s—if not better, notes Lyse Wells, who was charged with planning both the 1998 and the 1999 consortia. "I’m…excited because we are incorporating some of the feedback that we got last year to make things even better. We have a couple changes…including an icebreaker at the beginning of the day to help everyone get to know each other better and roundtable discussions on various topics to allow the students and presenters to talk informally in even smaller groups."

Thus, the SIOP doctoral consortium remains an extremely worthwhile event. I recommend attending the consortium when you reach that stage in your training not just to get advice, but also to have some fun!

…about the upcoming SIOP Conference. It has always seemed like conferences were just an excuse to get away from work, spouse, kids… you know, responsibility. For many of us, that’s reason enough, but if you’re the type who would like to know a bit more about the upcoming SIOP Conference before you attend, read on. In keeping with the objective of You Know, I’ve Been Wondering…, this segment answers some common questions regarding the annual SIOP Conference.

What goes on at a SIOP Conference?

Lot’s of great stuff! Most of which results in learning, laughing, debating, networking, and gaining that extra 5 pounds typically reserved for the holidays! Here’s a quick run down of Conference activities.

Prior to the Conference, all SIOP members will receive an Official Conference Program booklet in the mail. If you remember nothing else, do not forget to pack this book! It’ll become your best friend as the Conference unfolds. The SIOP Program presents session blocks in chronological order, and several sessions are conducted simultaneously within each time block. The booklet also includes brief abstracts, as well as the time, location, format, presenters, and paper titles associated with different Conference sessions. Furthermore, this booklet includes the dates and times of additional events and gatherings.

The actual SIOP Conference usually begins with pre-conference activities including the doctoral consortium, professional development workshops, a tour of a local point of interest, and the ever-popular SIOpen Golf Outing (for those who think they’re already working too hard before the Conference has even begun). The official beginning of the Conference is marked by the Presidential Address which, in recent years, has been spiced up with poetry, pianos, and picture galleries—along with really important presidential wisdom, of course.

Directly after the address, the sessions begin! Of course you’ll be bombarded with a wealth of top-notch empirical and theoretical information from the first session to the last, but it’s critical to maintain perspective, to not forget what’s really important—the coffee breaks. That’s right, coffee breaks. Lest you think we’re joking, stop a moment and think. Coffee breaks afford the perfect opportunity for awkwardly introducing yourself to someone who just presented a paper related to your area of interest, for rubbing elbows with some of those legendary names in the field, for summarizing or debating the merits of arguments you’ve just heard with a colleague, for schmoozing with your peers, making use of the restroom (some of those sessions are really long), and of course, eating.

Okay, outside of pre-conference activities, the presidential address, formal presentations, and coffee breaks, a few other interesting points need to be addressed. First on the list is the SIOP Job Placement Service. SIOP’s Job Placement Service provides a method for uniting job seekers with employers who are advertising position openings. This service includes part-time and full-time employment opportunities, as well as internships. Registered employers receive resumes submitted by registered job seekers; similarly, registered job seekers receive position descriptions submitted by registered employers. Mailboxes are assigned to facilitate communication of interest between employers and candidates. Employers conduct interviews right there during the Conference. The result might include broadening your network, receiving an invitation for further interviews, or better yet an offer of employment!

Next, to allow you to partake of the Dessert Reception guilt-free, Kevin Williams stages a mean 5K Road Race/Fun Run, usually on Saturday morning. (Mean only because it directly follows Friday night!)

Finally, as long as we’ve hit upon the topic of food, we need to mention the parties… Oh, they might be labeled "receptions," "hospitality rooms," or "gatherings," but what we’re really talking about are parties. Typically, several companies host "receptions" in the evenings. Some are invitation only, but many are open to all SIOP members. These parties offer a wonderful opportunity for socializing, networking, and I-O psychologizing.

What’s the difference among various SIOP session formats?

Symposium. Participants present papers on a related theme.

Panel Discussion. A moderator asks questions of panelists ensuring all panelists have an opportunity to present their views. Panelist-audience interaction is encouraged.

Roundtable Discussion. One to two experts on a topic serve as hosts for a table. Attendees seek help with issues/problems related to the topic, learn about the latest developments in an area, and increase networks.

Poster Presentation. Session involving a large number of individual papers, presented on display boards and discussed one-on-one with attendees. Posters within a single session typically focus on some common theme.

Master Tutorial. Expert presenters provide current information or educate the audience about a topic.

Practitioner Forum. Practitioners discuss challenges faced in the workplace along with innovative I-O based solutions. Audience involvement is encouraged.

Debate. Presents two opposing views on a topic. Arguments are presented and rebuttals heard.

Conversation Hour. An informal discussion among one or two experts and the audience, addressing a particular topic.

In what ways can students participate?

For starters, you’ve read about participation in the doctoral consortium. Furthermore, students can: present papers, take advantage of job placement services, and join in the athletic and social events. Conference Volunteer work provides an additional opportunity for student participation. Student Conference Volunteers perform a variety of functions such as helping out with Conference registration or job placement services, directing folks to meeting rooms, and handling various last-minute details. Along with getting the opportunity to meet other students, and lots of well-known I-O types, Conference Volunteers will get their registration fees refunded!

At what point in my graduate school career should I start attending SIOP Conferences?

ASAP! Whether it’s your first year in grad school or your nth year (some of us don’t like to disclose exactly how long we’ve been hanging around), you’ll be overwhelmed perhaps, dazzled probably, inspired most definitely. You’ll leave with more motivation than ever before—to finish that paper, data collection, thesis, or dissertation you’ve been working on.

By attending SIOP, newer grad students often broaden their perspectives on the field. Not just in terms of content areas addressed by I-O, but also in terms of what it’s like to be an I-O psychologist, and to identify with the profession. More seasoned students can take advantage of the SIOP Conference experience to develop research partnerships, extend networks, and even find a job. So, at whatever point you find yourself, SIOP offers unique opportunities to enhance your professional training and growth.

If you have any questions or comments regarding this issue, you can contact the editors via the options presented below.

To contact the TIP-TOPics editors:
E-mail: Dawn Riddle (riddle@luna.cas.usf.edu)
Lori Foster (foster@luna.cas.usf.edu)
Fax: (813) 974–4617
Mail: Department of Psychology, BEH 339
University of South Florida
Tampa, Florida 33620–8200

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