WGU D576 Industrial and Organizational
Psychology PRE-Assessment | Questions and
Answers | 2026 Update | 100% Correct.
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO I/O PSYCHOLOGY
AND HISTORY (Questions 1-10)
Question 1
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 in 1879. 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 2
Which husband-and-wife team were among the first scientists to improve
productivity and reduce fatigue by studying the motions used by workers?
A. John and Mary Watson
B. Frank and Lillian Gilbreth
C. Douglas and Mary McGregor
D. Frederick and Helen Taylor
,Correct Answer: B. Frank and Lillian Gilbreth
Rationale: Frank and Lillian Gilbreth were pioneers in time-and-motion
studies, which analyzed the motions used by workers to improve productivity
and reduce worker fatigue. Their work contributed significantly to the
industrial efficiency movement and scientific management.
Subtopic: History of I/O Psychology
Question 3
What is the "Hawthorne effect"?
A. A condition where employees become less productive when observed
B. A condition where employees become more productive due to being
studied
C. A condition where employees ignore researchers
D. A condition where employees quit when monitored
Correct Answer: B. A condition where employees become more productive
due to being studied
Rationale: The Hawthorne effect refers to the phenomenon where
employees modify their behavior in response to being observed or studied,
often resulting in increased productivity. This finding emerged from studies
at the Hawthorne Works plant of Western Electric and highlighted the
importance of social and psychological factors in the workplace.
Subtopic: History of I/O Psychology
Question 4
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 for their ability to meet
those requirements, and developing ways to train, evaluate, and respond to
employee performance.
Subtopic: I/O Psychology Branches
Question 5
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 6
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 7
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. They apply
psychological principles to solve workplace problems.
Subtopic: I/O Psychology Work Contexts
Question 8
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,
Psychology PRE-Assessment | Questions and
Answers | 2026 Update | 100% Correct.
SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION TO I/O PSYCHOLOGY
AND HISTORY (Questions 1-10)
Question 1
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 in 1879. 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 2
Which husband-and-wife team were among the first scientists to improve
productivity and reduce fatigue by studying the motions used by workers?
A. John and Mary Watson
B. Frank and Lillian Gilbreth
C. Douglas and Mary McGregor
D. Frederick and Helen Taylor
,Correct Answer: B. Frank and Lillian Gilbreth
Rationale: Frank and Lillian Gilbreth were pioneers in time-and-motion
studies, which analyzed the motions used by workers to improve productivity
and reduce worker fatigue. Their work contributed significantly to the
industrial efficiency movement and scientific management.
Subtopic: History of I/O Psychology
Question 3
What is the "Hawthorne effect"?
A. A condition where employees become less productive when observed
B. A condition where employees become more productive due to being
studied
C. A condition where employees ignore researchers
D. A condition where employees quit when monitored
Correct Answer: B. A condition where employees become more productive
due to being studied
Rationale: The Hawthorne effect refers to the phenomenon where
employees modify their behavior in response to being observed or studied,
often resulting in increased productivity. This finding emerged from studies
at the Hawthorne Works plant of Western Electric and highlighted the
importance of social and psychological factors in the workplace.
Subtopic: History of I/O Psychology
Question 4
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 for their ability to meet
those requirements, and developing ways to train, evaluate, and respond to
employee performance.
Subtopic: I/O Psychology Branches
Question 5
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 6
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 7
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. They apply
psychological principles to solve workplace problems.
Subtopic: I/O Psychology Work Contexts
Question 8
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,
