SIOP

The Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Inc. (SIOP), a professional society, is the Division 14 of the American Psychological Association (APA) and an organizational affiliate of the Association for Psychological Science (APS). SIOP's Administrative Office is located in Bowling Green, Ohio, in the United States.

I-O psychology focuses on how people behave in organizations, particularly the workplace. A society [Page 1448]of more than 7,300 members internationally and from across the globe with representation from academic, practitioner, and corporate sectors, SIOP's mission is to “enhance human well-being and performance in organizational and work settings by promoting the science, practice, and teaching of industrial-organizational (I-O) psychology.” To accomplish this, SIOP supports its members in their efforts to study, apply, and teach I-O psychology; provides forums for I-O psychologists to exchange research, insights, and information; identifies opportunities for expanding and developing the science and practice of I-O psychology; monitors and addresses challenges to the understanding and practice of I-O psychology; promotes the education of current and future I-O psychologists; and promotes public awareness of the field of I-O psychology.

SIOP's roots date back to 1892 with the founding of the American Psychological Association (APA). In 1937 members of several applied groups, including APAs clinical section, formed the American Association of Applied Psychology (AAAP). Section D, Industrial and Business, was one of four sections within AAAP. In 1945 AAAP, APA, and the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues merged and reorganized as the APA. AAAP Section D became APA Division 14, Industrial and Business Psychology. In 1962 “Business” was dropped from the name, and in 1973, “Organizational” was added, and Division 14 became the Division of Industrial and Organizational Psychology. To establish some independence from APA, in 1982 Division 14 incorporated as the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Inc.

Organization and Membership

SIOP operates on a budget of $1.8 million annually. Its organizational structure consists of an executive committee composed of a president, presidentelect, past president, five representatives to APA, financial officer/secretary, and eight portfolio positions. SIOP also has several standing committees (Fellowship, Membership, Election, Program, Program-APA, Pro-gram-APS, Scientific Affairs, Professional Practice, Education and Training, The Industrial-Organizational Psychologist (TIP), Workshops, Long-Range Planning, State Affairs, Awards, Organizational Frontiers Series, Professional Practice Series, Society Conference, Historian, Ethnic Minority Affairs, Placement and APA/APS Relations). The presidential seat is transferred at SIOP's annual conference. The SIOP Foundation provides financial support for the advancement of I-O psychology.

Membership in SIOP is open to Fellows, Members, and Associates of APA and Fellows and Members of the American Psychological Society, Canadian Psychological Association (CPA), and European Association of Work and Organizational Psychology (EAWOP). SIOP is affiliated with both APS and APA, and its members can join either. SIOP has experienced growth of membership over the years, growing from 5,841 members in May 2001 to more than 7,300 members in January 2009. The two largest sectors for membership employment in 2006 were colleges and universities (39 percent of members) and private sector consulting organizations (22.9 percent). Members with the highest annual income were employed in the pharmaceutical industry.

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