The Dunnette Prize recognizes work that has significantly expanded knowledge of the causal significance of individual differences through advanced research, development, and/or application.
Professor Marvin D. Dunnette devoted virtually his entire academic and professional life to the assessment, prediction, and explanation of individual differences in human behavior and performance.
This award is given to honor a living individual or team who has made programmatic, significant, and lasting contributions to the understanding of the role of individual differences in assessing, predicting, and explaining human behavior and performance. Such contributions can be in the form of basic research, applied research, or applications in practice. Professor Dunnette did not see these three as distinct entities – each informs the others.
Award recipients receive a plaque and a cash prize of $50,000. Recipients are expected to give an invited address about the Prize-winning contributions at the SIOP conference at which the award is received.
Administrative Procedures
- At least five members of the Dunnette Prize Subcommittee will review and evaluate each nomination package and recommend an award recipient to the SIOP Executive Board.
- The Executive Board may either endorse or reject the recommendations of the Subcommittee but may not substitute a nominee of its own.
- In the absence of a nominee who is deemed deserving of the award, the award may be withheld.
Composition of Committee
- Subcommittee members should be recognized experts in I-O psychology with expertise in individual differences).
- The subcommittee should be comprised primarily of SIOP Members, Fellows, and Associates.
- Lead Contributors can name a member to the subcommittee who may or may not be a SIOP member.
- The majority of subcommittee members should be independent, that is, they were not recommended to serve on the committee by Lead Contributors.
- Diversity of all types is encouraged, including non-U.S. based members.
Charter Contributors to the Dunnette Prize Fund
(These donors generously donated $1,000 or more. This list was last updated February 7, 2018.)
Cristina G. Banks Michael Beer Thomas and Pauline Bouchard Harry Brull David Campbell James Campion Howard C. Carlson Chesapeake Insts for Behavioral Research Sandra L. Davis René V. Dawis Robert Eichinger James L. Farr Irv and Micki Goldstein Harrison G. Gough George and Joni Graen Rick Guzzo Milt and Lee Hakel Keith and Karen Grabow Halprin Jo-Ida C. Hansen Joy and John Hazucha Lowell Hellervik Ray S. Hibbs Hogan Assessment System Thomas Hollmann Leaetta Hough Allen I. Kraut Frank Landy Gary Latham Patty and Ed Lawler Cynthia E. Marsh |
Jeffrey J. McHenry Douglas and Kimberly McKenna Robert F. Morrison Robert Muschewske Dianne Nilsen Cal Oltrogge Frederick Oswald PDI Charitable Giving Fund St Paul Foundation Patricia Pedigo David B. Peterson Lyman W. Porter David L. Prin Lise M. Saari Paul and Pat Sackett Frank Schmidt Benjamin and Brenda Schneider Lance Seberhagen James Campbell Sharf Rob Silzer Elaine B. Sloan Snyder Leadership Group Wayne W. Sorenson SWA Consulting Inc. Paul W Thayer The Robins Family Foundation Nancy T. Tippins Harry C. Triandis Victor Vroom Stroller Tod White Marti and Shelly Zedeck |
Criteria for Eligibility
The nomination package should address the below criteria for the award. Nominees will be judged in terms of their overall contribution to understanding the role played by individual differences in predicting, explaining, or facilitating human behavior and performance. Note that the number of publications and citation counts are secondary and perhaps even irrelevant concerns. Rather, it is the quality and impact of the work along with focus on the role of individual differences in predicting, changing, and explaining human behavior and performance.
Appropriateness – primary focus is on individual differences that are important for predicting, changing, or explaining human behavior and performance.
Quality – sound scientific and technical base. Fads, fashions, and folderol will be discounted (see Dunnette, M. D. (1966). Fads, fashions, and folderol in psychology. American Psychologist, 21(4), 343–352. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0023535).
Impact – innovative, programmatic work that has had significant and lasting impact on the field, advancing understanding, research, and/or practice.
Call for Nominations
Nomination Guidelines
- A nomination letter by a SIOP member is required. Self-nominations are welcome. If a SIOP member nominator is needed, please contact the SIOP Foundation at SIOPFoundation@siop.org.
- SIOP membership is not a requirement for nominees.
- The Dunnette Prize is intended to recognize individuals who have made programmatic, significant, and lasting contributions to understanding the causal nature of individual differences on behavior and performance. Nominees are thus likely to be in later stages of their career, although mid-career nominees are not precluded.
- The nomination package should also include: a current curriculum vitae for the nominee or for each member of the nominated team, a self-statement from the nominee or nominated team, three to five letters of support, and any additional materials that illustrate the contributions of the nominee.
- The letter of nomination, CVs, self-statement, supporting letters, and any additional materials must be submitted online by the nominator.
- When submitting the nomination materials, nominators will also be asked if the nominee(s) are being investigated, or have been found responsible, for misconduct prohibited in SIOP’s Anti-Harassment Policy and to provide a brief explanation if this is the case.