Personnel Psychology

Language of Instruction

Norwegian. All the lectures are in Norwegian, and only seminars are offered in English for international students.

Pre-requirements

To be eligible for admission applicants must satisfy the basic entrance requirements. For further information see www.uib.no. No other courses in the domain of work, organizational or leadership psychology are necessary.

Learning Outcomes

Personnel Psychology focuses on the individual within the organization, and constitutes an important part of the wider field of work and organizational psychology. The course includes the following major subjects:

a) individual characteristics´ influence on employee in-role and extra-role behaviour, and

b) organizations selection, handling and management of individual employees.

A basic insight into central personnel psychological issues will be facilitated, including different individual factors that influence employees' experience, behaviour and performance in organizations and across organizations. The students will, furthermore, be presented with current challenges experienced by organizations concerning recruitment, selection, assessment, development, consideration and turnover issues.

Contact Information

Information Centre: tel. (+47) 55 58 27 10,

e-mail: studieveileder.psyfa@uib.no

Course offered (semester)

Autumn and spring.

Exam offered (semester)

Spring and autumn: A four hour written examination.

Language of Instruction

Norwegian. All the lectures are in Norwegian, and only seminars are offered in English for international students.

Department

The Department of Psychosocial Sciences, Section of Work and Organizational Psychology.

Aim and Content

1. Theories and methods in Personnel Psychology

The student is expected to have satisfactory knowledge about:

• Important scientific issues, historical development and basic methodological issues in the field.

2. Individual conditions that affect behaviour in a job situation.

The student is expected to have satisfactory knowledge about:

• How individual characteristics of personality, intelligence, perception, learning and information processing, influences individual behaviour and performance in the work arena.

• The importance of individual characteristics in selection, training and motivating of employees.

• The importance of emotions in work and organizations.

3. The individual within the organization

The student is expected to have satisfactory knowledge about:

• The concepts of organizational commitment and psychological contract, and their precursors and consequences.
• The concept of organizational learning, and how organizations may facilitate individual learning and development.
• Ethical issues and dilemmas individuals may face as employees, including knowledge about the phenomena of whistle blowing.

4. How the organization manage their employees.

The student is expected to have satisfactory knowledge about and present in writing:

• The main criteria and methods for recruitment and selection of employees.
• The importance of various reward and compensation systems within organizations, including consequences for employees´ motivation, performance and productivity.
• The concept of turnover, and various important measures to reduce undesirable turnover within organizations.
• Various methods for employee assessment and development, including performance appraisals.
• The concept of diversity including how organizations in an optimal way may manage diversity in the organization.
• Individual reactions, and care of personnel, after crises and accidents within the organization
• The concept of destructive employee behaviour, and antecedent of such behaviour.

5. Occupational career

The student is expected to have satisfactory knowledge about:

• The concept of socialization in working life in general and in organizations in particular, and how individual and situational factors influence employees´ socialization to working life and organization.
• The concept of individual career development, and factors which may influence individual career development within and across organizations.
• Characteristics of "older workers", and how organizations may optimize the use of this employee group, as well as caring for and motivating them.

Learning Outcomes

Personnel Psychology focuses on the individual within the organization, and constitutes an important part of the wider field of work and organizational psychology. The course includes the following major subjects:

a) individual characteristics´ influence on employee in-role and extra-role behaviour, and

b) organizations selection, handling and management of individual employees.

A basic insight into central personnel psychological issues will be facilitated, including different individual factors that influence employees' experience, behaviour and performance in organizations and across organizations. The students will, furthermore, be presented with current challenges experienced by organizations concerning recruitment, selection, assessment, development, consideration and turnover issues.

Pre-requirements

To be eligible for admission applicants must satisfy the basic entrance requirements. For further information see www.uib.no. No other courses in the domain of work, organizational or leadership psychology are necessary.

Teaching Methods

Mini-lectures and activities in a seminar group throughout the semester.

Compulsory Requirements

Participate in a seminar group and the completion of multiple choice tests.

Assessment methods

A four-hour written exam will be given at the end of the semester. The students are expected to answer two out of three given questions.

Reading List

Syllabus and recommended literature cover approximately 1000 pages.

Course Unit Evaluation

The students are expected to evaluate the course at the end of the semester according to procedures set by the Faculty of Psychology. The evaluation will take place every third semester, at a minimum.

Contact Information

Information Centre: tel. (+47) 55 58 27 10,

e-mail: studieveileder.psyfa@uib.no