Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI) Practice Exam

Organizational development is made up of which of the following scientific domains?

1. Social psychology

2. Industrial-organizational psychology

3. Applied psychology

4. All of the above

The correct answer is: All of the above

Organizational development is indeed comprised of multiple scientific domains, and in this case, all the listed options contribute to its overall framework. Social psychology examines how individuals interact within groups and how organizational culture affects behavior and attitudes. This understanding is essential for promoting effective teamwork and enhancing employee satisfaction, which are critical components of organizational development. Industrial-organizational psychology focuses specifically on the behavior of individuals in workplace settings. It applies psychological principles to improve productivity, employee morale, and organizational structure. This domain helps in shaping strategies for recruitment, training, and performance evaluation, making it fundamental to organizational development initiatives. Applied psychology includes various psychological principles put into practice within an organizational context. This domain is broad and encompasses elements from social and industrial-organizational psychology, focusing on real-world applications of psychological theories to solve workplace issues and foster an improved organizational environment. Since all these domains contribute valuable insights and methodologies to the field of organizational development, the choice indicating that they collectively encompass organizational development is accurate.