WGU D576 Industrial and Organizational
Psychology | Objective Assessment | OA
Questions and Answers | 2026 Update | 100%
Correct.
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO I/O PSYCHOLOGY
(Questions 1-10)
Question 1
Which area of I-O psychology is concerned with describing job requirements
and assessing individuals for their ability to meet those requirements?
A. Organizational psychology
B. Human factors psychology
C. Industrial psychology
D. Personnel psychology
Correct Answer: C. Industrial psychology
Rationale: Industrial psychology is the branch concerned with job analysis,
employee selection, training, and performance appraisal. It focuses on
describing job requirements, assessing individuals, and developing ways to
train, evaluate, and respond to employee performance. Organizational
psychology focuses on social interactions and organizational culture; human
factors studies human interaction with tools and machines.
Subtopic: I/O Psychology Branches
Question 2
A psychologist studies how the relationships among employees affect those
,employees and the performance of a business. This is the focus of which I-O
psychology branch?
A. Industrial psychology
B. Human factors psychology
C. Organizational psychology
D. Personnel psychology
Correct Answer: C. Organizational psychology
Rationale: Organizational psychology is concerned with worker satisfaction,
motivation, commitment, leadership, and organizational culture. It studies
how management styles, social norms, and role expectations affect
individual behavior. It also considers subjects such as harassment and
workplace violence.
Subtopic: I/O Psychology Branches
Question 3
Which area of I-O psychology studies the interaction between workers and
the tools of work to optimize productivity, safety, and health?
A. Industrial psychology
B. Organizational psychology
C. Human factors psychology
D. Personnel psychology
Correct Answer: C. Human factors psychology
Rationale: Human factors psychology (ergonomics) focuses on how workers
interact with tools of work and how to design those tools to optimize worker
productivity, safety, and health. This includes the fit of a desk, chair, and
computer to a human being sitting and using them for extended periods.
Subtopic: I/O Psychology Branches
Question 4
Wilhelm Wundt is recognized as the:
,A. Father of industrial psychology
B. Father of experimental psychology
C. Father of organizational psychology
D. Father of human factors psychology
Correct Answer: B. Father of experimental psychology
Rationale: Wilhelm Wundt is considered the father of experimental
psychology, establishing the first experimental psychology laboratory in
Leipzig, Germany. While his work laid the foundation for psychological
research methods used in I-O psychology, he is not specifically credited as
the founder of I-O.
Subtopic: History of I/O Psychology
Question 5
Which husband-and-wife team were among the first scientists to improve
productivity and reduce fatigue by studying the motions used by workers?
A. Frank and Lillian Gilbreth
B. John and Mary Watson
C. Douglas and Mary McGregor
D. Frederick and Helen Taylor
Correct Answer: A. Frank and Lillian Gilbreth
Rationale: Frank and Lillian Gilbreth were pioneers in time-and-motion
studies, which aimed to improve productivity and reduce worker fatigue by
analyzing the motions used in work tasks. Their work contributed
significantly to the industrial efficiency movement.
Subtopic: History of I/O Psychology
Question 6
An I-O psychologist determines that the structure of work teams and the
dynamics of cooperation versus competition are affecting productivity. This
psychologist is most likely working in which context?
, A. Academia
B. Government
C. Consulting firms
D. Business
Correct Answer: D. Business
Rationale: I-O psychologists working in business or corporate settings focus
on internal issues such as team structure, cooperation, competition, and
communication to improve organizational effectiveness. Lewin, a key figure
in organizational psychology, conducted research on leadership styles, team
structure, and team dynamics.
Subtopic: I/O Psychology Work Contexts
Question 7
I-O psychologists working in this context study management, leadership, and
organizational culture, and how these factors affect individual behavior.
A. Academia
B. Government
C. Consulting
D. Research institutions
Correct Answer: C. Consulting
Rationale: Consulting I-O psychologists work with client organizations to
diagnose problems and recommend solutions related to management,
leadership, organizational culture, and employee behavior. They apply
psychological principles to improve workplace effectiveness.
Subtopic: I/O Psychology Work Contexts
Question 8
What type of interview has standardized questions and scoring, making it
more effective at predicting job performance?
A. Unstructured interview
B. Behavioral interview
Psychology | Objective Assessment | OA
Questions and Answers | 2026 Update | 100%
Correct.
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO I/O PSYCHOLOGY
(Questions 1-10)
Question 1
Which area of I-O psychology is concerned with describing job requirements
and assessing individuals for their ability to meet those requirements?
A. Organizational psychology
B. Human factors psychology
C. Industrial psychology
D. Personnel psychology
Correct Answer: C. Industrial psychology
Rationale: Industrial psychology is the branch concerned with job analysis,
employee selection, training, and performance appraisal. It focuses on
describing job requirements, assessing individuals, and developing ways to
train, evaluate, and respond to employee performance. Organizational
psychology focuses on social interactions and organizational culture; human
factors studies human interaction with tools and machines.
Subtopic: I/O Psychology Branches
Question 2
A psychologist studies how the relationships among employees affect those
,employees and the performance of a business. This is the focus of which I-O
psychology branch?
A. Industrial psychology
B. Human factors psychology
C. Organizational psychology
D. Personnel psychology
Correct Answer: C. Organizational psychology
Rationale: Organizational psychology is concerned with worker satisfaction,
motivation, commitment, leadership, and organizational culture. It studies
how management styles, social norms, and role expectations affect
individual behavior. It also considers subjects such as harassment and
workplace violence.
Subtopic: I/O Psychology Branches
Question 3
Which area of I-O psychology studies the interaction between workers and
the tools of work to optimize productivity, safety, and health?
A. Industrial psychology
B. Organizational psychology
C. Human factors psychology
D. Personnel psychology
Correct Answer: C. Human factors psychology
Rationale: Human factors psychology (ergonomics) focuses on how workers
interact with tools of work and how to design those tools to optimize worker
productivity, safety, and health. This includes the fit of a desk, chair, and
computer to a human being sitting and using them for extended periods.
Subtopic: I/O Psychology Branches
Question 4
Wilhelm Wundt is recognized as the:
,A. Father of industrial psychology
B. Father of experimental psychology
C. Father of organizational psychology
D. Father of human factors psychology
Correct Answer: B. Father of experimental psychology
Rationale: Wilhelm Wundt is considered the father of experimental
psychology, establishing the first experimental psychology laboratory in
Leipzig, Germany. While his work laid the foundation for psychological
research methods used in I-O psychology, he is not specifically credited as
the founder of I-O.
Subtopic: History of I/O Psychology
Question 5
Which husband-and-wife team were among the first scientists to improve
productivity and reduce fatigue by studying the motions used by workers?
A. Frank and Lillian Gilbreth
B. John and Mary Watson
C. Douglas and Mary McGregor
D. Frederick and Helen Taylor
Correct Answer: A. Frank and Lillian Gilbreth
Rationale: Frank and Lillian Gilbreth were pioneers in time-and-motion
studies, which aimed to improve productivity and reduce worker fatigue by
analyzing the motions used in work tasks. Their work contributed
significantly to the industrial efficiency movement.
Subtopic: History of I/O Psychology
Question 6
An I-O psychologist determines that the structure of work teams and the
dynamics of cooperation versus competition are affecting productivity. This
psychologist is most likely working in which context?
, A. Academia
B. Government
C. Consulting firms
D. Business
Correct Answer: D. Business
Rationale: I-O psychologists working in business or corporate settings focus
on internal issues such as team structure, cooperation, competition, and
communication to improve organizational effectiveness. Lewin, a key figure
in organizational psychology, conducted research on leadership styles, team
structure, and team dynamics.
Subtopic: I/O Psychology Work Contexts
Question 7
I-O psychologists working in this context study management, leadership, and
organizational culture, and how these factors affect individual behavior.
A. Academia
B. Government
C. Consulting
D. Research institutions
Correct Answer: C. Consulting
Rationale: Consulting I-O psychologists work with client organizations to
diagnose problems and recommend solutions related to management,
leadership, organizational culture, and employee behavior. They apply
psychological principles to improve workplace effectiveness.
Subtopic: I/O Psychology Work Contexts
Question 8
What type of interview has standardized questions and scoring, making it
more effective at predicting job performance?
A. Unstructured interview
B. Behavioral interview
