M23 Social Psychology of Organisations and Institutions
Aims and Learning Outcomes
This module aims to provide students with advanced knowledge and understanding of theory and practice in accordance with three of the eight Level 1 British Psychological Society competencies that are prerequisite for Chartered Status. Specifically the competencies addresses are: Organisational Development and Change (Section 8 of BPS criteria), component 1 of Employee Relations and Motivation (Section 7 of BPS criteria) and components 10-11 of Training (Section 6 of BPS criteria). In particular the Aim of this module is to enable students to apply social psychological thinking to organisational issues.
By the end of this modules students are expected
- to be trained in the informed and systematic application of the research-practitioner model involving the in-depth analysis [using quantitative and qualitative methods, techniques & tools] and integrated theoretical formulation of commonly encountered organisational problems that can benefit from a social-psychological analysis (e.g. organisational transformation and change, problems of motivation and morale).
- to be knowledgeable about practice in the design of social-psychological interventions at a strategic level to address commonly encountered organisational problems and issues, taking into consideration
(a) the wider social, economic and political context,
(b) legal imperatives [e.g. Equal Opportunities] and
(c) micro-political and ethical sensitivities - to be able to to develop the basic interpersonal, technical and creative skills required for the effective social-psychological analysis and formulation of organisational problems and for the effective design, implementation and evaluation of bespoke ‘organisational’ interventions (e.g. culture change, team development).
Course Convenor
Dr Lynne Millward Purvis
Other Contributors
Contact Hours
20
Required Prerequisite Study
Undergraduate Social Psychology
Completion Requirement
Completion of the module (and the acquisition of 15 course credits) requires a total of 20 contact hours in the form of lectures and seminars and 3 additional contact hours in the form of workshops. Students are also required to invest a minimum of 100 hours of study time in completion of the module.
Assessments
Assessment 1 Essay (50%, of the final mark) Assessment 2 Project (50% of the final mark).
Suggested Reading
Argyle, M. (1989) The Social Psychology of Work. Harmondsworth: Penguin
Brotherton, C. (1999). The Social Psychology of Management. London. Sage.
Brown, R. (1995) Group Processes: Dynamics within and between groups. Oxford: Blackwell.
Garrison, M. & Bly, M.A. (1997). Human Relations: Productive Approaches for the Workplace, Allyn & Bacon.
Haslam, S.A. (2004) Psychology in Organisations: The Social Identity Approach. (2nd ed) London, Sage.
Hogg, M.A.& Terry, J. (2003) Social Identity Processes in Organizations. Psychology Press.
Hogg, M.A. & Tinsdale, S. (2003) Group Processes. Blackwell.
Katz, D. & Kahn, R (1978). The Social Psychology of Organisations. (2nd ed) Chichester: Wiley.
Morgan, G. (1997). Images and Organisation. London: Sage.
Rousseau, D. (1995) Psychological Contracts in Organizations. Sage.
Core text
Millward, L.J. (2005) Understanding Occupational and Organizational Psychology. London: Sage.