Business psychology is the discipline of applying knowledge of psychological principles to the world of work. It explores real-world business issues associated with the efficiency, well-being and satisfaction of workers, by focusing on the fit between individuals, their job role, the teams they work in and organisational structures. Business psychologists work closely with organisations to make recommendations for improving people's work experiences.
This module will take an academic-practitioner approach to examining the key areas of business psychology. Along with covering the basic elements of topics not covered before on the undergraduate programme, you will be introduced to some of the advanced elements of research into more familiar domains, such as motivation, individual differences and stress. In particular, current themes within the discipline (such as work-family conflict, managing email, and health at work) will be studied, and you will be able to engage in practical activities to appreciate how business psychologists can best address such concerns within the contemporary workplace.
Students suited to this module will be interested in expanding their understanding of people, will wish to keep abreast of modern theses of work behaviour, and will be keen to apply this knowledge in practical settings. On completion of the module, you may wish to consider registering for the MSc in Occupational and Business Psychology offered by Kingston Business School.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
1. The Individual
2. The Organization
3. Stress and Well-being at Work
4. Professional Practice
Note that the key topic of Leadership is covered on the Level 6 modules for Leading and Change and Leading Organizations, and so is not repeated in this module.
This module will be delivered by using a mix of formal lectures, class discussions, practical workshops, and group work, using activities and case studies. Sessions will be supported by materials posted onto Canvas. Students will be encouraged to form study groups to support their learning on this module, and will be expected to utilise Canvas to share information and work together on developing their scientist-practioner portfolio. This provides opportunities to demonstrate continuous learning, and receive formative feedback. Assignments will encourage students to apply a scientist-practitioner portfolio approach by including a practical proposal for a client-focused business psychology intervention, and a blog piece aimed at a broader audience of end-users. This also allows students to demonstrate employability skills by producing evidence-based reports that have real-world value and relevance. Students will demonstrate continuous engagement with course materials via the assignments, regular refresher quizzes (posted on Canvas), and opportunity for discussion and formative feedback through workshop-style sessions. Additionally, students will be strongly encouraged to attend the "research into practice" seminars run by the MSc Occupational and Business Psychology course team.
Definitive UNISTATS Category | Indicative Description | Hours |
---|---|---|
Scheduled learning and teaching | Lectures and workshops. Lecturer scheduled – 3 hours per week for 22 weeks. | 66 |
Guided independent study | Home study, study groups, preparation for class work, revision and assignments. | 234 |
Total (number of credits x 10) | 300 |
4
This module is summatively assessed through 2 coursework assignments
Coursework 1 (50%)
3 x 300 word blogs. Three research-informed opinion pieces (blogs) will be produced from at least two of the Domain Areas covered in Teaching Block One.
Coursework 2 (50%)
1 x 1500 word Briefing Report, written for a fictitious 'client' will be produced based on content covered in the remaining two Domain Areas covered in Teaching Block Two
Learning Outcome | Assessment Strategy |
---|---|
1) To identify key theories and approaches across four key domain areas in business psychology. | Formatively through workshops and guided study; Summatively in both coursework assignments. |
2) Illustrate the role of diversity, gender and cultural influences in achieving fairness in the workplace. | Formatively through workshops and guided study; Summatively in Coursework 1 and 2. |
3) To make good use of quality research to inform evidence-based management practices. | Formatively through workshops and guided study; Summatively in Coursework 2. |
4) To adopt a scientist-practitioner focus to connect with various end-users of business psychology research. | Formatively through workshops and guided study; Summatively in both coursework assignments. |
5) To evaluate the reliability, validity, and significance of the latest evidence relevant to business psychology. | Formatively through workshops and guided study; Summatively in both coursework assignments. |
6) To synthesize theory and evidence to propose solutions for enhancing the effectiveness of organisations and developing people in the workplace. | Formatively through workshops and guided study; Summatively in Coursework 2. |
Description of Assessment | Definitive UNISTATS Categories | Percentage |
---|---|---|
1. Coursework 1: 3 x 300-word blog post | Coursework | 50% |
1. Coursework 2: 1500-word Briefing Report | Coursework | 50% |
Total (to equal 100%) | 100% |
It is NOT a requirement that the element of assessment is passed in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.
Recommended Reading:
Academic Journals (to access the latest research on contemporary issues)
Academy of Management Journal
Academy of Management Review
Administrative Science Quaterly
Annual Review of Psychology
Applied Psychology: An International Review
British Journal of Psychology
British Journal of Social Psychology
Career Development International
Computers in Human Behaviour
Creativity and Innovation Management
European Journal of Work & Organizational Psychology
Human Relations
Human Resource Management
International Journal of Human Resource Management
International Journal of Selection and Assessment
International of Management Reviews
Journal of Applied Behavioural Science
Journal of Applied Psychology
Journal of Applied Social Psychology
Journal of Behavioural Decision Making
Journal of Career Assessment
Journal of Career Development
Journal of Change Management
Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied
Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
Journal of Management Studies
Journal of Managerial Psychology
Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology
Journal of Occupational Health Psychology
Journal of Occupational Psychology
Journal of Organizational Behavior
Journal of Personality
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Journal of Vocational Behavior
Leadership Quarterly
New Technology, Work and Employment
Organisation Studies
Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes
Organizational Research Methods
Personality and Individual Differences
Personnel Psychology
Psychological Bulletin
Psychological Science
Work and Stress