Readings in industrial and business psychology

Abstract

Review of the books "Readings in industrial and business psychology" by H. W. Karn and B. von H. Gilmer (see record 1953-03078-000 ) and "Readings in experimental industrial psychology" by M. L. Blum (see record 1953-05470-000 ). "Readings in Industrial and Business Psychology" consists of 53 selections, mostly recent journal articles, covering topics commonly commonly found in industrial psychology texts. Most of the articles are neither popular nor highly technical. The book would be appropriate for either graduate or undergraduate students. About half the articles report research studies and the others are discursive or theoretical. Some of the titles of the eleven articles are: Motivation and Morale, Psychological Tests, Interviewing and Counseling, and Psychologists in Industry. "Readings in Experimental Industrial Psychology" has 63 recent journal articles. Nearly all the selections present results of research studies. About a third of the book is devoted to common textbook topics: Employee Selection, Application Blanks, Training, Motivation and Production, Labor Relations, and Music in Industry. Another third of the book is given to Engineering Problems, Display and Control Design Studies done for the Air Force, and Research in Visibility and Legibility. The remaining third of the book includes Marketing Research, and chapters on three new measurement techniques: the Flesch Formula, Forced Choice, and Critical Incidents. Both books can easily be used to stimulate discussion and criticism. Experimental research which is reported clearly is always good for this purpose. Both of these books, in my opinion, will be found useful by many instructors for training students in the field of business and industrial psychology. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)