Job Analysis- Broken Elbowzzz

*** Remember that this assignment is not an APA paper. The information needs to
be in a usable form using paragraph form where necessary and bullet lists
where it is appropriate ***
I. Introduction
A. Job Description:
Teaches courses in psychology consisting of, but not limited to: clinical, developmental,
cognitive, and psychological counseling. Professors primarily engage in teaching as well as
combinations of teaching, research, and service.

i. Job Title (titles)

Title(s): Assistant Professor of Psychology
Associate Professor of Psychology

ii. Education required

Graduate School is usually required for these positions with a minimum of a Masters Degree
with some needing a Doctorate degree.

B. Important work values necessary for this work

Independence is one of the values listed on O*NET. In this profession, there is a good mix of
independence and working with others however they see fit. While lecture/teaching may be
something that is independently completed, research opportunities can either be independent or
professors have the ability to work with students. Valuing student learning is necessary to
successfully challenge students to grow and reach their greatest potential. Professors need to
value the progression of psychology as a field in order to further research and promote continual
growth.

C. Interests that are fulfilled via this work

O*NET states an important interest filled with this position is in regards to social interests.
Professors have to lecture students and many at JMU also work with students to allow the
opportunity to do research. The majority of the professors interviewed in panel stated that they
had enthusiasm both to teach and work with students which they believed helped students. Also
stated on O*NET were investigative interests which involves working with ideas for long periods
of time. One of the three key aspects of being a psychology professor was the research aspect
which professors work both with and without students on.
B. Uses for this Job Analysis
Used to look at most if not all aspects of a job which is important when looking for potential new
hires or when making decisions regarding the position. In order to make proper decisions about
the position itself it is important to know what is required from those who hold the position and
what important criteria are needed to have a successful individual at this position.

C. Organizational Setting
i. Description of type of organization Include information about both JMU as a
university, and the psychology department. ***Dont forget to use appropriate citations.
James Madison University:
JMU. Engaged learning. A better you.
The first item mentioned on the JMU home page under about jmu, are the words
engaged learning and that it happens in every discussion, lab, study group, team
project, and interaction with a professor
According to the JMU homepage, professors do not just disseminate knowledge in the
classrooms, they engage students in discussion and critical thinking. Challenging their
students to create, innovate, and collaborate in order to come up with solutions to
complex problems. Professors also work alongside students in the classroom,
conducting research, during study abroad programs, and on service learning trips
On the About JMU page, there is a section on Rankings and Recognitions as well as a
link to latest faculty accomplishments
James Madison Universitys Department of Psychology
Following a link on the homepage Welcome from the Department Head the mission of
the department is stated to be the mission of our department is to educate students in,
and contribute to, the science of psychology
Faculty are referenced as scholars of best practices in undergraduate psychology
education
The department clarifies that they offer a wide range of innovative and student focused
learning opportunities
The faculty conducts research on a wide range of topics and are very proud that they
invite students to collaborate
Students and faculty are contributors to international, national and regional professional
conferences; with much of the work published in scientific journals, books and
professional newsletters
Through their research they create new knowledge as well as provide students with
opportunities to learn about behavioral science by conducting research

ii. Description of work context in the department

O*Net
Electronic Mail 92% responded Every day.
Freedom to Make Decisions 70% responded A lot of freedom.
Public Speaking 63% responded Every day.
 Contact With Others 65% responded Constant contact with others.
Structured versus Unstructured Work 47% responded A lot of freedom.
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled 75% responded Every day.
Telephone 50% responded Every day.
Face-to-Face Discussions 62% responded Every day.
Duration of Typical Work Week 72% responded More than 40 hours.
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate 59% responded Very important.
Level of Competition 42% responded Extremely competitive.
Frequency of Decision Making 37% responded Once a month or more but not every
week.
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results 44% responded Important
results.
Letters and Memos 38% responded Once a month or more but not every week.
Coordinate or Lead Others 39% responded Very important.
Time Pressure 36% responded Every day.
Spend Time Sitting 38% responded More than half the time.
Deal With External Customers 31% responded Extremely important.
Work With Work Group or Team 30% responded Very important.
Physical Proximity 41% responded I work with others but not closely (e.g., private
office).

II. Job Analysis Method

A. Describe background research Dont forget to attach CVs in an appendix.
Collected the CVs of two psychology professors at JMU. Looked over their
backgrounds, education, skills and other things to get an idea of what they do.
B. Group interview session Dont forget to attach questions used during the interview
in an appendix.
Our question that was used: What is the most challenging part about balancing teaching,
research, and service?
Jamie
Procrastinate on research - what is the most immediate thing happening at that time; Its
much easier to put teaching at the top of the list
Jessica
Doesnt want to balance them, if she didnt have to do it then she probably wouldnt do
service, its easier to push that in the back burner, to keep herself on track she gives
them deadlines which gives her deadlines which keeps the ball rolling and good for her
because she always has something on her desk that she has to get back to other
students
Jeff
First couple of years she didnt do any service at all and then it kind of caught up to him
and has built up so his research has gotten behind
Melanie
 Where attention gets pulled is what she focuses on more; example - last year research
pulled her a lot more because there were a lot more meetings and students depending
on them and trying to keep students on track, depends on make up of the courses you
are teaching and the labs you are involved in
Tracy
Hard to balance, teaching is the number one thing because she believes purpose is
teaching, research is a little more, likes service better, devoted more time to service,
advocacy/service has kind of dipped into her research because she had to do research
for some of her service; its part of the career, things ebb and flow depending on what
needs to get done; benefit of the department that they get to choose what they want to
focus on

Used the interview session to get an idea about what each professor days in their day-to-day
life, as well as what they accomplish over the course of a year or longer. Got a general picture
about what they spend their time on, how they accomplish it, and why they do what they do.
Also got a good idea about how their job works, its requirements, and how they are assessed.

C. Other informational gathering techniques try and find outside sources of

information to help create as complete of a picture of a professors job as possible.
Consider looking at Joblink.
III. Job Analysis Outcomes
A. Linkage Analysis
i. <= 10 Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, or Other Characteristics (KSAOs): For each
KSAO, give a definition, and the specific job tasks where the job incumbent needs to
use that KSAO
a. You can use bullet points or outline format, if you wish. Make sure the information is
usable for future projects.
ii. Make sure this includes the most important KSAOs & most important tasks. You
cannot cover everything.
iii. There will be different numbers of tasks associated with the different KSAOs
iv. Tasks should reflect the range of activities involved in a professor's job duties.
1. Knowledge: An individuals developed body of information encompassing facts
and specified subject comprehension.
a. Using knowledge to prepare and deliver lectures
b. Expand knowledge by keeping aware of updates in the field of psychology
c. Use knowledge of content to select and obtain materials and supplies
d. Expand and apply knowledge by conducting research in a particular field
2. Skills: An individuals ability to complete or comprehend a task.
. Effectively provide feedback: Evaluate and grade students' class work
a. Technological skills: Maintain student records
b. Critically think about material: Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course
content, course materials, and methods of instruction
c. Technological skills: Develop and use multimedia course materials
3. Abilities: An individuals capacity to fulfill talents or activities.
. Ability to communicate information: Prepare course materials, such as syllabi,
homework assignments, and handouts.
a. Ability to listen and comprehend: Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom
discussions
4. Other Characteristics: Vital qualities needed that many not be encompassed in
knowledge, skills, or abilities.
. Accessibility: Maintain regularly scheduled office hours
a. Advising: Advise students on academic and career choices
b. Providing service to the community: Serve on academic or administrative
committees
c. Collaboration: Collaborate with colleagues to address teaching and research
issues

B. Other Important Qualifications

i. As you see needed
IV. Any other information about the job
Appendix

Questions used during panel

What is the most challenging part about balancing teaching, research, and service?
Do you balance them equally or spend more time on one domain?
What is your process for creating your syllabi and planning out your semester?
Which way of teaching do you prefer to use and how did you come to choose it?
(lecture, interteaching, powerpoints, discussion, etc)
Do you make separate plans for TAs when planning out the semester or do you figure it
out as you go along?
Do you typically use TAs or GAs as sort of an ease on the amount of work that you have
or do you want the whole thing to be a learning experience for them so you're teaching
both the students and the TA/GA?
What life experiences do you believe have best prepared you to be a successful
professor?
Do your workplace values ever conflict with your personal values?
Do you find yourself satisfied professionally or do you continuously seek to expand your
career?
What qualities do you personally feel like make a good professor? (List of 28? I think
things)
How would you define good teaching?
What new skills have you learned over the past year?
CVs
Submitted as separate documents

Citations

About JMU. (n.d.). Retrieved September 26, 2017, from http://www.jmu.edu/about/index.shtml

Apple, K. J. (2016, January 8). Department of Psychology. Retrieved September 26, 2017, from
http://www.psyc.jmu.edu/ug/welcome.html

25-1066.00 - Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary. (2016). Retrieved September 25, 2017,

from https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/25-1066.00#JobZone