PSYCHOL 4208 - Organisational Psychology

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2020

The objective of this course is to develop an understanding of the theory and practice of organisational psychology in its historical context and of some of the contemporary issues important for psychologists working and conducting research in organisations. The course also covers contemporary organisational topics in organisations; the nature and role of leadership; and organisational culture and fit.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PSYCHOL 4208
    Course Organisational Psychology
    Coordinating Unit Psychology
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 2 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Restrictions Available to B.Psychology (Honours) and B.Psychology (Advanced)(Honours) students only
    Assessment Personality assessment and report, Final essay-based examination
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Aspa Sarris

    Dr Aspa Sarris
    Phone: 8313 6144
    Email: aspa.sarris@adelaide.edu.au
    Location: Room 718a, Level 7, Hughes Building

    Other Academic Staff:
    Dr Jaime Auton
    Ph - 8313 7464
    Location: Room 726, Level 7, Hughes Building
    Email: jaime.auton@adelaide.edu.au
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    At the successful completion of this course students will be able to:

    1 Demonstrate advanced knowledge in organisational psychology, including a discussion of its historical origins and development
    2 Examine critically the conceptual and theoretical frameworks relating to organisational psychology
    3 Review critically contemporary organisational psychology topics.
    4 Evaluate critically the nature of leadership and its role and development within organisations
    5 Examine critically the role of organisational culture and fit in relation to organisational functioning, staff satisfaction and retention and organisational performance
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1-5
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1-5
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    1-5
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1-5
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1-5
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    1-5
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Students will be advised of relevant reading material in the first seminar and also via the Myuni course site.
    Recommended Resources
    Barr Smith Library – Psychology on the Web
    The Library is a major resource centre for students. The Research Librarian for Psychology, Maureen Bell, provides some useful information through the Internet at http://libguides.adelaide.edu.au/psychology. The website contains a list of databases, links to tutorials and help with searching methods.

    For additional information regarding recommended resources please refer to the Honours Program Handbook at the following link:
    http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/current-students/forms-handbooks/
    Online Learning
    Material from the training seminars offered during the semester will be made available on MyUNi.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This component of the course involves compulsory attendance at a series of research training seminars. The rest involves independent student learning, consultations with supervisors and the course co-ordinator.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Lectures:  6 x 2 hours  = 12 hours
    Mid-semester exercise: 26 hours
    Exam preparation:  25 hours
    Independent reading:  90 hours
    Final exam: 3 hours

    Total: 156
    Learning Activities Summary
    Week Topic Lecture
    Week 1 Topic 1 Groups and Teamwork
    Week 2 Topic 2 Leadership
    Week 3 Topic 3 Organisational Culture
    Week 4 Topic 4 Stress and Performance
    Week 5 Topic 5

    Human Factors

    Week 6 Topic 6 Role of the Organisational Psychologist
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Assessment Type Weighting Learning outcome(s) being addressed
    Mid-semester test/exercise Summative 30 1-5
    Examination Summative 70 1-5
    Assessment Detail
    The mid-semester exercise is a multiple choice test (1 hour). Questions will cover each of the topics covered and will require an understanding of knowledge gained in each seminar. The examination (3 hours) will include a question from each of the topics of the course presented in two sections. You will be required to answer 3 questions in total (with at least one question from each of the two sections). Questions will require advanced conceptual knowledge concerning each topic and a demonstration of independent reading and/ or research.
    For additional information regarding assessment please refer to the Honours Psychology Handbook and the Undergraduate Program Handbook at the following link: http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/current-students/forms-handbooks/
    Submission
    Please refer to the General Handbook for Undergraduate Psychology students (available at the link below) for details on submission process/requirements, penalties for late submission, the process of applying for extensions, and the staff “turn-around” timeline on assessments and the provision of feedback and policy relating to re-submission/redemptive work.

    http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/current-students/forms-handbooks/
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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