Department 12: An I-O Psychology Podcast

In this episode of the Department 12 Podcast, Dr. Ben Butina talks with Ian Siderits, a Ph.D. candidate at North Carolina State University, about mentorship from the perspective of a mentee. Ian discusses his entry into the field of I-O psychology, influenced significantly by his mentors, starting with Dr. Tara Behrend during his undergraduate studies. He reflects on key mentoring principles, such as providing autonomy and the crucial role mentors play in both personal and career development. This episode offers insights into the dynamics of effective mentorship through Ian’s academic and professional experiences. Be sure to check out the episode page for a full transcript.

In this episode of Department 12, I sit down with the Ellie Hoekman, an I-O Psychology enthusiast turned career coach, to explore the paths that lead Ellie from a rejected quantitative psychology applicant to a fervent advocate and professional in the I-O psychology space. Ellie also shares her advice for I-O students, recent graduates, and faculty members. Be sure to visit the episode page for a full transcript.

In this episode, Ben speaks to Richard Mendelson, Ph.D. about a range of topics, including Rich's work as an expert legal witness and consultant in school violence cases. The heart of the episode is a discussion about the relationship between time-tracking and productivity. The conversation also touches on the impacts of remote work and the gig economy. Check out the episode page for a full transcript and more links.

A few years ago, I talked to Shavonne Holman and Macy Cheeks about an organization they had founded: Blacks in I/O Psychology. Since then, the organization has gone from strength to strength, and, on February 22-23, 2024, BIOP will hold its Inaugural Conference & Gala in Atlanta. Register before the end of the year for an early-bird discount.

Dr. Victoria Mattingly joins Dr. Ben Butina to discuss diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. She shares her expertise from publishing the book Inclusivelytics and running her consulting firm. Dr. Victoria opens up about battling cancer this year and how it differed from facing depression. The conversation covers how to build genuine inclusion for all identities, embracing neurodiversity, using data to drive DEI efforts, and strategies to cultivate more allies. Tune in for an insightful discussion on leading with empathy, intersectionality, and ability-based inclusion. Be sure to visit the episode page on the Department 12 website for a full transcript. While you're at it, why not sign up for my free weekly newsletter?

In this episode of Department 12, Dr. Ben Butina interviews Professor Carol Kulik, co-author of the book Human Resources for the Non-HR Manager. Dr. Kulik discusses the importance of HR for all managers, even those who don't have a formal HR role. She also talks about the importance of making HR research accessible and applicable to everyday practice. Dr. Butina and Dr. Kulik also discuss the challenges of writing a book that is both academically rigorous and engaging to read. Dr. Kulik shares her insights on the importance of finding your voice as a writer and how to write for a specific audience. Finally, Dr. Butina asks Dr. Kulik about her thoughts on the convergence of HR practices across different countries. Dr. Kulik discusses the similarities and differences in HR practices around the world, and she offers her perspective on the future of HR management. Be sure to visit the episode page for key takeaways, questions for discussion, and a full transcript. While you're at it, why not sign up for the free Department 12 Newsletter and get your I-O news delivered fresh every week?

Dr. Ben Butina interviews Henri Maindidze, a third-year graduate student in I/O psychology at Portland State University. Henry discusses his experiences with mentoring undergraduate students and how he helps them navigate the challenges of graduate school. He shares some of the most common questions he receives from mentees, such as how to manage their time, how to approach class assignments, and how to deal with supervisor dynamics. Henry also talks about the importance of being a critical thinker and how he helps his mentees develop this skill. He concludes by saying that the most rewarding part of being a mentor is seeing someone come back and say that a conversation they had helped them figure out where they wanted to go in their career. Visit the episode page for a full transcript. And don't forget to subscribe the free Department 12 Newsletter for the latest IO academic research, popular press books and articles, and more.

Join Dr. Ben Butina in this enlightening episode of Department 12 as he engages in a compelling conversation with Dr. Rachel Baghelai. Dr. Baghelai recounts her unconventional journey into the world of Industrial-Organizational (IO) psychology, transitioning from banking to pursuing a graduate program at Elmhurst University. Delving into her evolution within the field, Dr. Bagley shares her shift from employee engagement surveys to becoming a passionate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) consultant. The episode's centerpiece is Dr. Bagley's groundbreaking project at The Kaleidoscope Group, where she discusses the innovative methodology behind validating a DEI survey for the modern workplace. Through key driver analysis, correlations, regression, and factor analysis, she demonstrates how this approach prioritizes inclusivity, diverse demographics, and insightful data analysis. Tune in for a captivating exploration of bridging research and practice in IO psychology and DEI initiatives. Be sure to visit the episode page for a complete transcript and don't forget to subscribe to my free weekly newsletter on Substack.

Trevor Nagle is a working actor with more than 40 speaking roles in movies, TV shows, and live theater to his credit. He also does voiceover work and industrial films. In this episode, I talk to Trevor about what a day on set is really like, the unique challenges of auditions, and what separates successful working actors from those who drop out. There's also a great big swerve about halfway through this episode that I think you'll enjoy. You can connect with Trevor on LinkedIn, and be sure to check out the episode page for a full show transcript. By the way, did you know there's a Department 12 Newsletter? It's absolutely free, so please sign up and give it a shot.

In this episode, Dr. Ben Butina interviews Dr. Andrew Holter about the surprising findings in his recently defended dissertation on whether self-efficacy, grit, and job satisfaction predict turnover intention among new registered nurses. Dr. Holter also discusses his background in public safety and how IO psychology is applicable in his role as a fire department administrator. Check out the full transcript on the episode page.

Dr. Ben Butina interviews Dr. Logan Watts, Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Texas at Arlington, about his background and research. They discuss the concept of “side effects” in organizational interventions, which are unintended negative consequences that may occur as a result of a treatment or intervention. They also explore the distinction between side effects and primary effects, which are intended consequences of an intervention. Dr. Watts also shares an example of how he and his colleagues discovered negative side effects of an assessment tool they created, which resulted in a negative correlation between the nature of feedback and how much the participants liked the tool. He also addresses the challenges in detecting side effects in the workplace, such as collecting data and disentangling the effects of an intervention, and suggests that organizations may already be collecting a lot of relevant data that could be used to detect side effects. Visit the episode page for links and a full transcript.

Are there reliable differences between generations? Should business and HR leaders make decisions based on generational differences? Why are generations so popular on social media and in the popular business press? Are generations even a thing? In this episode, I interrogate Dr. David Costanza, Director of the I/O Psych Doctoral program at George Washington University, where he is Associate Professor of Psychology and Organizational Sciences. I learned a lot and I hope you will, too. Check out the episode page for a full transcript. (Apologies in advance for blowing out the microphone! I sound like I'm screaming this episode!)

Raul Alejandro Espino joins us to share his observations about I-O psych in Central America, South America, and Spain. Be sure to visit the episode page for a full transcript.

Let's face it. We've got a bad name. In this episode, I make the case against the name "industrial and organizational psychology," consider some of the alternatives, and offer up my own suggestion for a new name. I'd love to hear your opinion about this one, so please hit me up on Twitter, LinkedIn, or email to share your perspective. Be sure to check out the episode page for a full transcript of my insane ramblings.

Please click here to donate to my GoFundMe. A few days ago, my family was devastated by a fast-rising flood that destroyed the first floor of our home and our vehicles. We are safe and dry, but we have very limited insurance coverage so picking up the pieces is going to be a hard road. If you can donate any amount, large or small, will be appreciated by my family. I look forward to resuming the show as soon as I can. I thank you in advance for your kindness and generosity. Episode page here.

Dr. Marcus Crede has been threatened, legally and physically. His crime? Pointing out problems in published research. Lack of pre-registration, lack of power analysis, obvious calculation errors, impossible statistical results...authors, editors, peer-reviewers and readers are not doing so well. What is happening and what can we do about it? Check out the episode page here.

Can you validly and reliably measure a construct with just a single item? If so, what does that mean for academics and practitioners? In this episode, Dr. Russell Matthews (University of Alabama), Laura Pineault (Wayne State University), and Yeong-Hyun Hong (University of Alabama), join me to talk about their new paper, Normalizing the Use of Single-Item Measures: Validation of the Single-Item Compendium for Organizational Psychology_in the _Journal of Business and Psychology. Check out the episode page for a full transcript.

What can we learn about leadership from the Marvel Cinematic Universe? An awful lot, if our guides are Dr. Gordon B Schmidt and Dr. Sy Islam. In this episode, I talk to Gordon and Sy about how they first got interested in Marvel, why the MCU is such a great setting for exploring leadership practices, and how they worked together to create Leaders Assemble! Leadership in the MCU. Be sure to check out the episode page for a full transcript and links.

One of the world’s foremost experts on the psychology of video games is one of us! Jamie Madigan, Ph.D. is the I-O psychologist behind the blog, podcast, and media empire called The Psychology of Video Games. In the first level, Jamie and I talk about how a good workplace is like a videogame and why that’s a cool topic for book. In the boss level, we talk about science communication, sounding like a person in your writing, and the differences between writing for a popular audience and writing for other nerds. Finally, in the bonus level, Jamie shares his tips for working with journalists. Check out the episode page for Jamie's bio and links and a full transcript.

How do practitioners learn about our research? What topics and questions do they wish we would research? How can we communicate our research more effectively? In this episode, I speak to Marc Effron, talent management consultant and author of One Page Talent Management about these questions and many more. Check out the episode page for Marc's bio, links, and a full episode transcript.