Tools and Methods of Psychology in the Workplace Essay

Tools and Methods of Psychology in the Workplace - Essay Example As   we   attempt   to   develop   screening   and   selection   batteries   for   the   future   , not   only   must   they   be   valid   and   reliable   but   they   must   also   fall   within   current   legal   guidelines, which   is   an   arduous task   . This learner feels  that psychological practitioners in order to  contribute must be  well  informed  about many legal guidelines; because these laws are  work-related laws that psychological  practitioners  or psychologist must abide by now and beyond the future. This   learner   feels   that   psychological   practitioners   can   contribute   by   helping   to   create   and   implement   selection   procedures   that   are   predictive,   practical, cost   effective, and   legally   defensible. In addition those   practitioners   can   also   contribute   by   searching   for   vali d   and   unbiased   assessment   methods   , because   those   methods   has   become   a   crucial   issue   in   personnel   selection   ( Schmidt, 1993). ... Structural interviews, which measure a variety of skills and abilities, particularly  non-cognitive  skills, 3. Work samples  which measure job skills such as planning  and  organizing   . , and 4. Assessment centers measure knowledge , skills , and abilities through a series of work samples   / exercises that reflect job content and types of problems faced on the job , cognitive ability tests , personality inventories , and or   job knowledge   tests   . This  learner feels that the most important  fact is the validity and reliability of the tool and the impact that it will have on  applicants. According  to Schmidt and Hunter, combining a general mental ability measure with  a structural interview or with a work sample is likely to yield  the highest  composite validity . (Schmidt & Hunter, 1998). Compare  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   and   Contrast   a skill , competencies , or tool   and its   implementation   by   either   a human   resource   manager   or   a   psychological   practitioner   . This   learner   would   choose   the   " Cognitive   Ability   Test " , which is a tool that is used   by   psychological   practitioners because   it   measures   mental   abilities   such as   logic   , reading   comprehension   , verbal or   mathematical   reasoning   and   perceptual   abilities   . Cognitive  ability test is implemented by  paper and pencil  or  computer based  instruments. This    tool   carries   a   very   high   validity   rate   when   compared   to   " Conscientiousness   tool   " , which   measures   the   personality   trait   and   is   implemented   by   typically   with   multiple   -choice   or   true   / false   formats   . This learner  , would   use   the help   of a competency   model   that many skills that most applicants should have when