Introductory description

Provides an overview and insights into theories and research in Organizational and Applied Psychology and provides examples across the core topics in this field. We focus on seminal work and emerging topics.
The module introduces different topics related to Applied and Organizational Psychology, led by researchers in the field. Each session is based on core readings that students will prepare in advance and discuss with lecturers acting as facilitators. Topics include Cognition, Affect, Performance, Creativity, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Topics will cover general organizational and applied psychology topics led by researchers in the field including motivation and performance; emotion and wellbeing; shared cognition and attribution, creativity, team processes; leadership, entrepreneurship, change and innovation. Each session is based on core readings that students prepare in advance and discuss with lecturers acting as facilitators.

Students will also gain a sense of 'real-life' research in this field along with what work high quality research requires, what can go wrong, compromises that need to be made, and pitfalls etc.
Students will be focus on developing a good understanding of what constitutes a contribution to the field, discuss different types of research questions, how those tend to be operationalised in the field and what some of the limitations of research in this field are.

Topics include:

1. Behaviours at work (e.g. performance, OCB, counterproductive behaviours, entrepreneurial behaviour)
2. Affect and wellbeing at work
3. Creativity
4. Individual differences
5. Leadership
6. Team processes
7. Psychological Contract, Organisational Justice, Ethics
8. Work design
9. Organisational Change and Innovation

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Identify current topics and research questions in the field and understand how those may be applied to inform student’s own research

• Critically evaluate theory and research in this field
• Identify different ways in which phenomena are addressed in this field, both theoretically and empirically

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Subject specific skills

1. Identify current topics and research questions in the field and understand how those may be applied to inform student’s own research.
2. Understand how these may have informed management research more widely.
3. Critically evaluate theory and research in this field.
4. Identify different ways in which phenomena are addressed in this field, both theoretically and empirically.

Transferable skills

1. Develop and be able to evaluate research questions
2. Write clearly and succinctly, displaying a high level of conceptual understanding, and with appropriate use of referencing.
3. Give a clear and concise oral presentation to academic peers demonstrating their understanding of the chosen topic, adequately applying theory and research to their own research idea.