New Zealand: The Home Of Culturally Appropriate Testing
New Zealand is a fantastic country. This statement will come as no surprise to many but it is often taken for granted by us Kiwis as to what a great place to both live and work New Zealand is. One of the many things that make New Zealand great is
A Big Theory
For my last blog on the psychological articles in the Economist I would like to draw people’s attention away from I/O psychology and into more fundamental science. For those that don’t know, Stephen Hawkins is attempting to find a unifying theory of the universe that connects both theories of the
How Scientific is Peer Review
In my contemplation of the purity of scientific pursuit, I came across an article by Frank Furedi (Science’s peer system needs a review, The Australian, 20 February 2010) that highlights a myth that is commonly known to researchers and central to the mysticism of science. The myth: That the esoteric
Job Satisfaction and Work Productivity
A current hot topic in the world of I/O is the relationship between happiness at work and work productivity. Everyone can see the ‘human-benefit’ of having a happy workplace, and the idea that increased job satisfaction and a harmonious workplace are inherently good things makes obvious sense. However, the link
Faking It
As I/O psychologists we are extremely reliant on the accuracy of the data that is presented to us. Decisions are made on the basis that what is presented is indeed factual and accurate. But how much data is ever cross-examined? How much ‘faith’ can we put in data that is
I/O Psychology Needs to Grow Up
In line with a common thread through my blogs, I draw into question the notion that I/O psychology is indeed a science, let alone a pure science. The tag of a science is, in my opinion, a hindrance to our discipline’s progress. A selection of links to an I/O forum,
Is Meta-Analysis All it is Cracked Up to Be?
As a student of psychology, I was taught that meta-analysis exceeded all other forms of research. However, his view has been brought into question by a series of papers such as: Hennekens, C.H., & DeMets, D. (2009). The need for large-scale randomized evidence without undue emphasis on small trials, meta-analyses,
What Is Stopping The Changes Coming About: The Trouble With I/O
In response to my previous posts, people have asked what I see as the issues that are currently being faced by the I/O psychology discipline. I would say there are three interconnected issues that affect our discipline. The first two are internal and the second is external. My belief is
Response Style Indicators And The Concept Of Integrity
Two recent papers have questioned the assumption that validity scales in personality testing, such as social desirability, address inherent problems of self-report data. The argument is that the inclusion of a response bias indicator somehow provides a litmus test of the validity of a personality report. But like many assumptions
Lessons in Education: University Years
Victoria University was my home away from home between 1991 and 2000. I returned to the education system following a gap year and approached my studies with renewed vigour. I felt privileged to get into University on a provisional entry as I had not completed the seventh form. Moreover, coming