Final answer:
A list of the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for a job is known as a job specification, which is often determined through job analysis by Industrial-Organizational psychologists using observation, surveys, and interviews.
Step-by-step explanation:
A list of the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform a particular job is known as a job specification. Industrial-Organizational (I-O) psychologists often engage in job analysis to determine what these specifications are. They use two main approaches—the task-oriented approach which details the tasks to be performed, and the worker-oriented approach, which focuses on the characteristics required of the worker to successfully perform the job, including the knowledge, skills, and abilities, or KSAs.
Observation, surveys, and interviews are commonly used methods to collect this information. For instance, the O*Net database maintained by the United States Department of Labor provides extensive job analyses for a variety of occupations, detailing the necessary tasks, knowledge, skills, abilities, and other attributes needed for success in those roles.