Experimental Psychologists in Industry: Perspectives of Employers, Employees, and Educators

The Task Force on the Employment of Experimental Psychologists in Industry, formed in 1982, conducted three surveys, in order to assess the roles of traditionally trained psychologists in nonacademic research settings.The surveyed groups were psychology department chairs, recent recipients of PhDs who had taken nonacademic jobs, and industrial employers at managerial levels. These surveys identify requisite and relevant skills for employment in human factors research, applied cognitive psychology, testing and measurement organizations, market research, and military settings. They also evaluate the adequacy of traditional academic training for psychologists in these areas. Although such training is seen as highly effective, fault can be found with two aspects: attitudes about applied psychology and predegree opportunities for experience in applied settings.