PSY 7600 (80069)

Personnel Selection
Fall Semester 2015; 3 hours; M 5:00 -7:45 pm

Dewar College of Education and Human Services

Valdosta State University
Department of Psychology & Counseling
Departmental Outcomes
Educational Outcomes
(80484)
Goal 2: Scientific Inquiry and
Critical thinking. The skills in
this domain involve the
development of scientific
reasoning and problem solving,
including effective research
methods.
2.3 Engage in innovative and
integrative thinking and
problem solving
2.4 Interpret, design, and
conduct basic psychological
research

Goal 4: Communication
Students should demonstrate
competence in writing and in
oral and interpersonal
communication skills.
4.2 Exhibit effective
presentation skills for different
purposes

Activities

Evaluation

Student are given

organizationally based
scenarios that require them to
solve common workplace
issues

Individual rubrics are

available for each
assignment that assess
how logical and in-depth
the critical thinking
process has occurred
within each student.

Students are expected to create

survey documents for
distribution and analyze
subsequent statistical data.

Individual rubrics are

provided that assess each
student based on their
understanding of best
practice in design and
analysis.
Students are assessed
based on accurate and
clear communication of
psychological concepts.

Students are expected to

present and empirical study
and effectively communicate
the psychological concepts

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS
Positively Impacting Learning Through Evidence-Based Practices

Heneman, H. G., (III), & Judge, T. A., Kammeyer-Mueller, J. D. (2014) Staffing

Organizations (8th ed.) Boston: Mendota/McGraw-Hill/Irwin.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course addresses personnel selection from predictors to criterion measures of job
performance; measurement issues; job and task analysis; and the legal and social context of the
process.
COURSE OBJECTIVES (CO):
The student will:
1. Have a general understanding of legal issues surrounding selection systems.
2. Understand the methodological issues that are central to the selection process as well as
guidelines for best practice.
3. Be able to develop a scale and determine if it is worth adding to an organizations current
selection system.
4. Be able to present selection based research and lead an audience based discussion of the
topic.
COURSE ACTIVITIES/ASSIGNMENTS/REQUIREMENTS
In-class exercises: Throughout the semester, we will use class time to complete selection based
exercises. The point allotment for each assignment will vary depending on the amount of effort
required. These are not reflected on the course schedule and the specific dates of each
assignment will be revealed in class. Late assignments will not be accepted one week after the
date administration. There is a 10% penalty per day late.
Reading Quizzes: Occasionally, reading quizzes will be administered throughout the semester to
ensure that you are keeping up with the class readings. No late or make-up quizzes.
Comprehensive Quizzes: Twice during the semester you will be required to prepare an academic
response to a single questions posed by your instructor. Late responses will be docked 10 percent
per half day late. Late responses will not be accepted after 1 day late. If you receive lower than a
C on both comprehensive quizzes you will be given an Incomplete in the course until you
complete an additional selection based project that will take place of the comprehensive quizzes.
Article Presentations: Each student will be responsible for presenting an academic article
throughout the semester. The presentation itself should be around 15 to 20 minutes long.
Presenters should include a brief literature review that includes discussion of articles relevant to
the manuscript being presented. After the presentation, the presenter will lead a classroom
discussion that includes questions, criticisms, and comments that developed when initially
preparing the presentation.
Scale Validation Project: Throughout the semester we will be conducting a scale validation
project. I will provide a scenario in which you will need to determine if it is worth adding a
newly created scale to an organizations selection system. The project will include all stages of
scale development including; scale creation, data analysis, data interpretation, and a critical
examination of the utility of the new scale. The final product will take the shape of an APA paper
that you will turn into me electronically towards the end of the semester.
Positively Impacting Learning Through Evidence-Based Practices

GRADING CRITERIA
The scale validation project will account for 30% of your grade. Article Presentations will
account for 20% of your grade. In-class exercises will account for 20% of your grade. Reading
quizzes will account for 10% of your grade. Finally, comprehensive quizzes will account for
20% of your grade.
A = 90%
B = 80%
C = 70%

D = 60%
F = < 60%

ATTENDANCE POLICY
VSU policy requires class attendance. Class roll will be taken!
Religious Observance & University-Business Policy: Students who anticipate being
absent from class due to the observation of a major religious holiday or a school-related event
must provide notice of the date to the instructor, in writing, by the second week of classes. In the
case of excused absence due to religious observance or school business, the student will be
offered make up work to replace any missed work.
CELL PHONE/TECHNOLOGY POLICY
You may use a laptop to type notes, but use of laptops for activities unrelated to class activities
will result in being asked to leave. Using cell phones to take pictures, text message, or to make
phone calls during class is prohibited. Cell phones should be switched off and left in bookbags,
purses, or pockets. Having a cell phone on your desk will subject it to being confiscated for the
duration of the class. MP3 players or other stereo equipment with earpieces or cell phones should
also be switched off and put away during class time. In addition, should you be caught more
than one time using such devices during class time, the instructor will take that into
consideration should your final grade fall on the border between two grades.
DEWAR COLLEGE OF EDUCATION POLICY STATEMENT ON PLAGIARISM
Below is information directly quoted from the Academic Honesty Policies and Procedures:
Academic integrity is the responsibility of all VSU faculty and students. Faculty members
should promote academic integrity by including clear instruction on the components of
academic integrity and clearly defining the penalties for cheating and plagiarism in their
course syllabi. Students are responsible for knowing and abiding by the Academic
Integrity Policy as set forth in the Student Code of Conduct and the faculty members
syllabi. All students are expected to do their own work and to uphold a high standard of
academic ethics.
The full text of Academic Honesty Policies and Procedures is available on the Academic Affairs
website (http://www.valdosta.edu/academic/AcademicHonestyatVSU.shtml).
The consequences for acts of academic dishonesty in the Dewar College of Education are:
Positively Impacting Learning Through Evidence-Based Practices

FIRST OFFENSE:
1. The faculty member will administer an academic response (e.g. resubmit / retake
assignment, failure of the assignment, failure of the course).
2. The faculty member will complete a Dewar College of Education Concern Form
(http://www.valdosta.edu/coe/studentsinfo.shtml).
3. The faculty member will complete a Valdosta State University Report of Academic
Dishonesty (http://www.valdosta.edu/academic/AcademicHonestyatVSU.shtml).
SECOND OFFENSE:
1. The faculty member will administer an academic response (e.g. resubmit / retake
assignment, failure of the assignment, failure of the course).
2. The faculty member will complete a Dewar College of Education Concern form
(http://www.valdosta.edu/coe/studentsinfo.shtml). The Dewar College of Education
Concern Form Policy will be followed.
3. The faculty member will complete a Valdosta State University Report of Academic
Dishonesty (http://www.valdosta.edu/academic/AcademicHonestyatVSU.shtml).
According to the Academic Honesty Policies and Procedures document, after a second
(or subsequent) Report of Academic Dishonesty has been submitted to the Student
Conduct Office in the Dean of Students Office, official charges will be drawn up and the
disciplinary matter will be referred to the Valdosta State University Judicial Committee.
ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT
Valdosta State University is an equal opportunity educational institution. It is not the intent of the
institution to discriminate against any applicant for admission or any student or employee of the
institution based on the age, sex, race, religion, color, national origin, disability, or sexual
orientation of the individual. It is the intent of the institution to comply with the Civil Rights Act
of 1964 and subsequent Executive Orders as well as Title IX, Equal Pay Act of 1963, Vietnam
Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, Age Discrimination in Employment Act of
1967, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Students with disabilities who are experiencing barriers in this course may contact the Access
Office for assistance in determining and implementing reasonable accommodations. The Access
Office is located in Farber Hall. The phone numbers are 229-245-2498 (V), 229-375-5871 (VP)
and 229-219-1348 (TTY). For more information, please visit http://www.valdosta.edu/access or
email: [email protected].
STUDENT OPINION OF INSTRUCTION
At the end of the term, all students will be expected to complete an online Student Opinion of
Instruction survey (SOI) that will be available on BANNER. Students will receive an email
notification through their VSU email address when the SOI is available (generally at least one
week before the end of the term). SOI responses are anonymous, and instructors will be able to

Positively Impacting Learning Through Evidence-Based Practices

view only a summary of all responses two weeks after they have submitted final grades. While
instructors will not be able to view individual responses or to access any of the responses until
after final grade submission, they will be able to see which students have or have not completed
their SOIs, and student compliance may be considered in the determination of the final course
grade. These compliance and non-compliance reports will not be available once instructors are
able to access the results. Complete information about the SOIs, including how to access the
survey and a timetable for this term is available at
http://www.valdosta.edu/academic/OnlineSOIPilotProject.shtml.
INSTRUCTOR
Name: Jeremy Bauer, Ph. D.
Office Number: 2204
Email Address: [email protected]
Office Hours: 1 pm - 5 pm Mondays; Tuesdays/Thursdays 1pm 3pm. Always by appointment!

Positively Impacting Learning Through Evidence-Based Practices

Personnel Selection
PSY 7600 Fall, 2015
Course Schedule
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16

Aug
Sep
Oct

Nov

Dec

Date
17
24
31
14
21
28
5
19
26
2
9
16
23
30
1
7

Topic
Chapter 1: Staffing Models and Strategy
Chapters 2: Legal Compliance
Chapter 3: Planning
Chapter 4: Job Analysis & Rewards
Chapter 5: External Recruitment
Chapter 6: Internal Recruitment
Chapter 7: Measurement
*October 15th is last day to withdrawal
Chapter 8: External Selection I
Chapter 9: External Selection II
Chapter 10: Internal Selection
Chapter 11: Decision Making
Chapter 12: Final Match
Chapter 13: Staffing System Management
Chapter 14: Retention Management
Wrap-Up
Final Exam (Same room and Time)

Chapters
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14

Positively Impacting Learning Through Evidence-Based Practices