The field of Industrial and Organizational Psychology: An early example of translational research

Abstract

The purpose of this article was to introduce the discipline of Industrial and Organizational (I/O) Psychology and discuss its connection with translational research. I/O Psychology is dedicated to improving the lives of people at work, and maintaining the communication between science and practice has been key to the success of that endeavor. A discussion on some of the more heavily researched I/O topics is presented, along with a discussion on the application of I/O in the form of organizational interventions. It is hoped that this article will contribute to the current discussion on translational research among the biomedical and biobehavioral fields and also be used as a resource for those seeking to improve the functioning of their organizations.