Timeline
View an interactive timeline of I-O psychology history.
Course Materials
Many SIOP members have covered the history of I-O psychology in college and graduate courses. The following course materials are available online and include interesting facts and photos:
- Dr. Patrick McCarthy's Brief Outline of the History of I/O Psychology
- Historical Background of I/O (University of Baltimore)
Articles and Books
- SIOP's Past President Leonard Ferguson wrote about the development of industrial psychology and the heritage of industrial psychology.
- View a preview of Laura Koppes’ book on the history of I-O psychology. She has also written a chapter on I-O psychology history in The Oxford Handbook of Organizational Psychology.
- The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) conducted early research on personnel selection as documented in this book and article.
- Laura Koppep published an article on early female I-O psychologists.
- In 1997, a special issue of the Journal of Applied Psychology was devoted to the history of I-O psychology.
Memoirs and Biographies
- The National Academy of Sciences has published a series of memoirs on key scientific figures. Some of those that I-O psychologists include:
- Lee Cronbach (creator of coefficient alpha)
- E. L. Thorndike
- Clyde Coombs
- Leon Festinger
- B. F. Skinner
- J. P. Guilford
- Read a biography of Thelma Hunt, a pioneering I-O psychologist at the George Washington University.
- Read a biography of John “Jack” Hunter, pictured, an eminent SIOP Fellow known for his contributions to meta-analysis, validity generalization, and personnel selection, and listen to his interview.
- Read about Robert Glaser and George Miller, of 7+- 2 fame.
Interviews
Starting in 2013, the SIOP Historian has interviewed a major I-O psychology figure as part of the SIOP Living History Series. View the recordings:
