May 27, 2008
The National Conference of Industrial & Organizational Psychology “Alexandru Rosca”
10-13 April 2008
Mihaela Chraif
EJOP Editor
This year the 8-th National Conference of Industrial & Organizational Psychology took place in Cluj-Napoca between 10 and 13 April.
The organizing committee was lead by the President of The Romanian Association of the Industrial and Organizational Psychologists, Prof. Horia D. Pitariu and involved the members of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences from Babes Bolyai University and also from Bucharest University.
Figure 1 The opening speech, Prof. Horia D. Pitariu, Ph. D., Prof. Adriana Baban, Ph.D.
Throughout its history, the field of I-O psychology has valued the scientist–practitioner model. Inherent in this model is a need for continuous dialogue between scientists and practitioners. In accordance with the scientist–practitioner model, the purpose of the conference was to highlight some of the most important recent developments in the science of I-O psychology and discuss implications of this scientific progress to the advancement of I-O psychology practice.
The keynote speakers were renown psychologists with experience in both science and practice fields.
Figure 2 Thomas Oacklad, keynotespeaker
The invited guest Thomas Oakland (University of Florida) focused in his presentation on estimating future behaviours, evaluating progress, screen for special needs, test adaptation and test development in Romania (figure 2).
Figure 3 Prof. Ivan Robertson, keynotespeaker
Professor Ivan Robertson from Leeds University Business School underlined the role of psychological well-being in organizations, revealed the business benefits through psychological well-being and evidences the impact of pressure in high performance.
Figure 4 Prof Remi K., keynotespeaker
Professor Remi Kouabenan (Dean of the faculty of human sciences and Society of University Grenoble 2, France) introduced the naïve explanation approach and risk perception in accident prevention “The impact of naïve explanation and risk perception on motivation to learn from paste experiences”.
Figure 5 New visions in psychological testing
The papers session has focused on the main subjects concerning the human resources and organizational psychology fields: the use of tests in a selection and evaluation context, organizational diagnosis and organizational climate. Unfortunately, the use of tests as predictors is often the only model that an I-O psychologist encounters, and the measurement of performance comes down to ratings.
On the other hand, those who practice in the certification or licensure arena—whether they are I-O psychologists or not—are routinely confronted with the requirement to not only use but also develop performance-based measures of knowledge or skill. Much of this research and development work is currently conducted by people in other disciplines (professionals in educational measurement), and there is much that I-O psychologists can both learn from and contribute to this arena.
Figure 6 Alin Sava and Laurentiu Maricutoiu, PowerStat Tim1.
The papers focused on the design, development, and use of performance-based tests, using specific examples of alternatives to multiple-choice, paper-and-pencil tests.
An important role in education and scientific development has been played by the workshops.
Figure 7 Emotions and Stress Impact on the Organizations Behaviour, Proffesor Horia D. Pitariu
The subjects debated were the followings: “Temperament Styles: Qualities That Impact Our Work, Social and Personal Live” (Prof. Thomas Oakland); “Emotions and Stress Impact on the Organizations Behaviour” (Prof Horia Pitariu, PhD students Roxana Capotescu, Stefania Isaila); “Paths Analysis and Factorial Analysis (Conf. Univ. Mircea Comsa, Assist. PhD. Robert Balazsi), “Computerized methods of data analysis” (Asist. PhD. Robert Balazsi, Research Asist. Gabriel Vonas); “Profesional Competences testing in Human Resources Management” and “Management of Organizational Change” (PhD Andrea Budean, PhD Catalina Ciuce and PhD Daniela Onaca).
Figure 8 Management of Organizational Change” (PhD Andrea Budean, OhD Catalina Ciuce and PhD Daniela Onaca).
The workshops were addressed to the specialists in the field of I/O Psychology, theorists and practitioners in the field of Human Resources, as well as to students and PhD students who prepare for a career in the field of I/O Psychology and Human Resources Management.
New and exciting for the experimental research applied in the I/O field was the poster session revealing methods of research in computerized testing systems with visual stimuli (figure 9).
Figure 9 Poster session: Undergraduate students, Bucharest University
Using cognitive abilities tests and visual processing stimuli tests the personnel selection and evaluation should move from the qualitative research to the quantitative research as modern research methods in our days.
A special place in the conference program was held by the Work Commission Meeting, where debated important aspects of Psychologists Profession Framework (levels of professional achievement, participation to the trainings, educational programs and workshops).
Figure 10 Work Commission meeting
The 8th National Conference of Industrial and Organizational Psychology targeted I-O psychology practitioners whose jobs often make it difficult to keep up with the rapid scientific progress of our field. Areas of coverage will included (a) developments in the conceptualization and measurement of work performance, (b) multilevel models of human resource management, (c) contextual influences on employee engagement, (d) advancements in the measurement of individual differences in the context of employee selection, (e) emerging theories of employee turnover, and (f) specific implications of progress in these areas to core I-O practice areas, such as staffing, training and development, job design, and performance management.