Abstract:
Organizational and Work Psychology (OWP) is permeated by a series of negative judgments and stigmas, mainly about its role as an intermediary of relations exploiting workers. Investigating the perceptions undergraduates have about it can bring access to what is central among the different ways of thinking about the subject. This study sought to analyze the perceptions of 100 undergraduates from two higher education institutions (HEIs), one public and private in Midwestern São Paulo about the importance of psychologists’ role in OWP and their interest in working in the area in the future, comparing the results per HEI and between the first and fifth year of graduation. Graduates answered two structured questionnaires with open and closed questions. Results pointed to a greater appreciation of OWP in the private HEI and in the fifth year. Most first-year undergraduate students had little knowledge about OWP. Students from the private HEI took greater interest in working in the area than students from the public HEI. When asked if taking the courses changed their opinions, 49 students responded positively and only one negatively. Participants’ responses were divided into positive, neutra,l and negative views about OWP. Results evaluated the perceptions on OWP in undergraduates the changes due to the impact of academic experiences.
Keywords:
Formation; Higher Education Institution; Organizational and Work Psychology