WGU D576 Industrial and Organizational
Psychology | Objective Assessment (OA) | Western
Governors University | 2026 Update | 70
Questions and Answers with Complete Solutions
1. Which of the following best defines Industrial-
Organizational (I-O) Psychology?
A) The study of consumer behavior in marketplaces
B) The application of psychological principles to
workplace environments
C) The treatment of clinical disorders in employees
D) The analysis of economic trends in organizations
Answer: B
Rationale: I-O psychology applies psychological theories,
research, and methods to improve workplace productivity,
employee satisfaction, and organizational effectiveness.
1
,2. Who is considered the "father of I-O psychology" for
his work on fatigue and monotony?
A) Frederick Taylor
B) Hugo Münsterberg
C) Walter Dill Scott
D) Kurt Lewin
Answer: B
Rationale: Hugo Münsterberg authored "Psychology and
Industrial Efficiency" (1913) and pioneered research on
employee selection and work motivation.
3. Frederick Taylor’s concept of "scientific management"
emphasized:
A) Employee emotional well-being
B) Using group dynamics for decision-making
C) Time-motion studies and task simplification
D) Unconscious motivations in workers
2
,Answer: C
Rationale: Taylor focused on efficiency through systematic
observation, breaking jobs into small, repetitive tasks to
increase productivity.
4. The Hawthorne Studies revealed that:
A) Lighting had the largest impact on productivity
B) Social factors and attention from researchers improve
performance
C) Financial incentives are the only motivator
D) Workers prefer individual over group work
Answer: B
Rationale: The Hawthorne effect showed that employees
perform better when they feel observed and valued,
highlighting the importance of social dynamics.
5. The difference between I-O psychology and HR
management is:
3
, A) I-O focuses only on training; HR on hiring
B) I-O uses research and data; HR focuses on
administration
C) I-O ignores legal issues; HR prioritizes them
D) No difference—they are identical
Answer: B
Rationale: I-O psychology applies empirical research to
workplace issues, while HR management focuses on
administrative functions, though they overlap.
6. Which subfield of I-O psychology focuses on
leadership and organizational culture?
A) Personnel psychology
B) Organizational psychology
C) Human factors engineering
D) Vocational counseling
4
Psychology | Objective Assessment (OA) | Western
Governors University | 2026 Update | 70
Questions and Answers with Complete Solutions
1. Which of the following best defines Industrial-
Organizational (I-O) Psychology?
A) The study of consumer behavior in marketplaces
B) The application of psychological principles to
workplace environments
C) The treatment of clinical disorders in employees
D) The analysis of economic trends in organizations
Answer: B
Rationale: I-O psychology applies psychological theories,
research, and methods to improve workplace productivity,
employee satisfaction, and organizational effectiveness.
1
,2. Who is considered the "father of I-O psychology" for
his work on fatigue and monotony?
A) Frederick Taylor
B) Hugo Münsterberg
C) Walter Dill Scott
D) Kurt Lewin
Answer: B
Rationale: Hugo Münsterberg authored "Psychology and
Industrial Efficiency" (1913) and pioneered research on
employee selection and work motivation.
3. Frederick Taylor’s concept of "scientific management"
emphasized:
A) Employee emotional well-being
B) Using group dynamics for decision-making
C) Time-motion studies and task simplification
D) Unconscious motivations in workers
2
,Answer: C
Rationale: Taylor focused on efficiency through systematic
observation, breaking jobs into small, repetitive tasks to
increase productivity.
4. The Hawthorne Studies revealed that:
A) Lighting had the largest impact on productivity
B) Social factors and attention from researchers improve
performance
C) Financial incentives are the only motivator
D) Workers prefer individual over group work
Answer: B
Rationale: The Hawthorne effect showed that employees
perform better when they feel observed and valued,
highlighting the importance of social dynamics.
5. The difference between I-O psychology and HR
management is:
3
, A) I-O focuses only on training; HR on hiring
B) I-O uses research and data; HR focuses on
administration
C) I-O ignores legal issues; HR prioritizes them
D) No difference—they are identical
Answer: B
Rationale: I-O psychology applies empirical research to
workplace issues, while HR management focuses on
administrative functions, though they overlap.
6. Which subfield of I-O psychology focuses on
leadership and organizational culture?
A) Personnel psychology
B) Organizational psychology
C) Human factors engineering
D) Vocational counseling
4
