Final answer:
A study of what employees do in a particular job is called a job analysis. It is essential in human resources for creating job descriptions, performance appraisals, and ensuring a good match between job requirements and employee characteristics in the field of industrial psychology.
Step-by-step explanation:
A study of what employees do in a particular job is called a job analysis. This process involves determining and listing the tasks associated with a particular job. It forms the basis for many other HR activities like performance appraisals, interviews, and job descriptions. While performance appraisals are evaluations of an employee's success at performing the duties of the job and often involve goals set by the employee or with the supervisor, job analysis is the systematic study of the tasks, duties, and responsibilities required to perform a job.
Industrial psychology is the branch of psychology that studies job characteristics and applicant characteristics to ensure a good match between them. This field is critical to the processes of job analysis, employee training, and performance appraisals, ensuring that the organization operates efficiently and effectively.