Personnel Psychology

Undergraduate course

Course description

Objectives and Content

By studying PSYK106 the student should acquire knowledge in relation to intervention methods in personnel psychology and key central issues including its historical foundations, traditions and methodological foundation. Within this context, the student should acquire evidence-based knowledge about both individual and organizational factors influencing employees´ organizational behavior, career development and the employee's relationship with organization i.e. organizational commitment.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge:

Upon completion of the course:

  • The student knows the history, the methodological foundations and central topics in personnel psychology.
  • The student has knowledge about how individual characteristics (such as personality, perception, attribution and intelligence) influence learning and behavior at work
  • The student has knowledge about how characteristics such as hardiness and coping expectancies influence stress management at work.
  • The student has knowledge about key principles and methods of recruitment of employees, including analyzing jobs, competencies and method of selection.
  • The students has knowledge about what is meant by the expression `learning in organizations`, and how organizations may facilitate learning and development for its organizational members (e.g. Employability)
  • The student can discuss ethical issues and dilemmas that employees may face, including the phenomenon of "whistleblowing"
  • The student has knowledge about individual reactions to, and professional caretaking of employees, after emergencies and accidents.
  • The student can have a discussion on competent and productive employees versus destructive and counterproductive behaviors at work.
  • The student can have a discussion on the socialization of employees to working life and to organizations, and how it can be influenced by individual and contextual factors
  • The student has knowledge about what we understand by the expression career development, and which factors may influence the individual's career development within and between organizations
  • The student can discuss how organizations in an optimal way employ and take care of older employees.
  • The student has knowledge about different role perspectives and how they may influence the individuals¿ behavior in the organization.
  • The student can discuss the concept of diversity (e.g. ethnicity, culture and gender) and how an organization may utilize and profit from diversity within the organization.
  • The student can discuss the concept: job satisfaction, job engagement, job design, organizational commitment and turnover.
  • The student can discuss different types of reward and compensation system in organization, including their influences on employee motivation, performance and productivity.
  • The student has knowledge about the concepts of organizational commitment and psychological contract, and their precursors and consequences.

Skills:

Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:

  • Orally as well as in writing access and evaluate key issues within the field of personnel psychology
  • Make use of academic knowledge and relevant research findings when approaching practical as well as theoretical questions
  • Evaluate the key issues of personnel psychology covered in the reading list and in class
  • Discuss relevant methods and tools for recruitment and selection.

General competencies:

Upon completion of the course:

  • The student has the competencies and skills to plan and carry out various tasks and projects that extend over time on both an individual and a group basis, and in line with ethical requirements and guidelines
  • The student has knowledge of key professional and ethical issues and problems in personnel psychology, based on relevant theories and empirical evidence
  • The student has the competencies and skills, to convey, orally as well as in writing, key subject matters, such as relevant theories and proposals for interventions
  • The student can exchange points of views and experiences with other professionals within the field of personnel psychology; and by this contribute to the use of theories, concepts and research findings from this academic field

ECTS Credits

15

Level of Study

Bachelor

Semester of Instruction

Autumn

Place of Instruction

Bergen
Required Previous Knowledge

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 and learning methods

Lectures and seminars.

Five of the lectures will be given in English for Norwegian speaking as well as English speaking students, and five lectures will be given separately for English speaking students only. See detailed timetable for the lectures on My Space.

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance

None.

Forms of Assessment

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

Assessment Semester

Autumn.

Reading List
Recommended syllabus will be available no later than 01.06 or 01.12 for the autumn and spring, respectively.
Course 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.

Programme Committee
Department of Psychosocial Science
Course Coordinator
Department of Psychosocial Science
Course Administrator
The Faculty of Psychology
Department

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