Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Psychology School
Applied contemporary topics in organisational psychology explored by drawing from examples of recently published research useful for practitioners. Emphasises connection between theory, methodology and practice within each research topic.
The purpose of this course is to give you an overview of new and emerging substantive areas in organisational psychology. Organisational psychology is a vast field which draws on several other areas of psychology, such as cognitive and social psychology and other disciplines such as sociology. Moreover, organisational psychology is an applied area. That is, it attempts to apply knowledge about human behaviour to understand, predict and change behaviour in the workplace. The course will be conducted in a combination of lecture and seminar format, with active participation from the students. Lectures will focus on emerging issues in the organisational psychology field, and we will use recent research to explore these issues. Each week, the class will consist of a lecture on theﾠbroad content topic and discusson on the week's readings. The class instruction and assessment in the course will be aimed at applying the substantive knowledge base of organisational psychology to analysing and interpreting common organisational problems.
Course requirements
Restrictions
MPsychOrg, MPsychBus or with permission of Director of Organisational Psychology programs
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
The purpose of this course is to give you an overview of emerging areas in organisational psychology. Organisational psychology is a vast field which draws on several other areas of psychology, such as cognitive and social psychology and other disciplines such as sociology. Moreover, organisational psychology is an applied area. That is, it attempts to apply knowledge about human behaviour to understand, predict and change behaviour in the workplace. We will use recent research on new and emerging areas in the field to develop our knowledge of the field of organisational psychology.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Review and systematically describe key theoretical bases and empirical research findings in emerging organisational psychology topic areas to professional and academic audiences.
LO2.
Correctly apply organisational psychology theoretical bases, research findings, and processes to accurately diagnose organisational problems in a business setting.
LO3.
Correctly apply organisational psychology theoretical bases, research findings, and diagnostic processes to propose targetted and evidence-based solutions to organisational problems.
LO4.
Review and integrate content from theoretical and applied sources in the field to describe an appropriate approach(s) to address organisational problems.
LO5.
Prepare and deliver a professional, coherent, and evidence-based presentation on an organisational problem for a high-level business audience.
LO6.
Write a report on an organisational problem, including the development of a problem statement, review of relevant research, outlining and critically evaluating the knowledge base and proposing a solution to the problem.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Participation/ Student contribution | Class discussion/facilitation integrative reviews | 20% |
24/02/2025 - 26/05/2025
Integrative Reviews due prior to class on the day the readings are discussed in class |
| Presentation, Reflection |
Presentation of an Applied Org Problem
|
40% |
Presentation date to be determined in class |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Report on Solution to an Applied Org Problem | 40% |
30/05/2025 2:00 pm
Submit via Turnitin |
Assessment details
Class discussion/facilitation integrative reviews
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
24/02/2025 - 26/05/2025
Integrative Reviews due prior to class on the day the readings are discussed in class
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L04
Task description
The purpose of asking you to complete TWO integrative reviews, and to discuss weekly readings with your peers and lecturer, is to develop your ability to critically examine and discuss theoretical and applied papers in organisational psychology and to summarise and integrate this material via written work and facilitated group discussion. An important skill for an organisational psychologist, or those applying psychological science in business contexts, is to be able to integrate the various insights that they gain from multiple sources to inform their theoretical approach and how they act in the world of work. You will submit one written review for the readings in week 8 (Diversity and Inclusion) and the second can be on a week of your choosing. On that week, as well as submitting your written review, you will also facilitate that week's class discussion. In addition, you will participate in weekly discussions in eight of the 12 weeks of the course.
Submission guidelines
Via Turnitin. Please keep a copy of your submission receipt.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Please contact the Course Coordinator.
Presentation of an Applied Org Problem
- In-person
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Written
- Category
- Presentation, Reflection
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
Presentation date to be determined in class
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L05
Task description
Select a specific problem of interest to you from one of the broad content areas in organisational psychology. Identify a focussed topic that relates to common organisational needs or problems. In search of a focussed topic, you might think back to your own experience, media reports, or talk to friends or organisational representatives. The problem should be focussed, concrete, and realistic (consult with the Course Co-ordinator before you finalise the topic). Next, research the literature relevant to this problem and develop an understanding of the causes, nature and consequences of the problem. Use these insights to propose a solution. Try to make the solution 'implementable'; do not give in to simplistic solutions. This exercise will form the basis of a class presentation (40% of the grade) and a written paper (40% of the grade). For more details including the requirement for a short written reflection about your presentation experiences, please see the guidelines and criteria documents on blackboard.
Submission guidelines
Submit your PPT, resources and reflection via turnitin.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Please contact Course Coordinator
Report on Solution to an Applied Org Problem
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
30/05/2025 2:00 pm
Submit via Turnitin
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L06
Task description
Select a specific problem of interest to you from one of the broad content areas in organisational psychology. Identify a focussed topic that relates to common organisational needs or problems. In search for a focussed topic, you might think back to your own experience, media reports or talk to friends or organisational representatives. The problem should be focussed, concrete, and realistic (consult with me before you finalise the topic). Next, research the literature relevant to this problem and develop an understanding of the causes, nature and consequences of the problem. Use these insights to propose a solution. Try to make the solution “implementable”; do not give in to simplistic solutions. This exercise will form the basis of a class presentation (40% of the grade) and a report (40% of the grade). Please see further information and marking criteria on blackboard.
Please note - the purpose of the report and the presentation is to develop your knowledge of organisational psychology. As a result, you must not do the report/ present in an area that was covered in your Honours project or that you are submitting as part of your PhD or other coursework/practicum subjects.
Submission guidelines
Assignment to be submitted via Turnitin. NOTE: You will no longer receive an automatic submission receipt from Turnitin confirming your assignment has been received. You should download a copy of the digital receipt from the Assignment Dashboard and keep this as a record.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
For full details please review the School of Psychology Student Guidelines - Extensions and Deferred quiz/exam.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 19 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 20 - 46 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 47 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
All assessment items must be attempted: It is a requirement of the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) of the Australian Psychological Society (APS) that the minimum pass mark for each and every assessment task relating to the Core Capabilities and Attributes for Psychologists is 50%.ﾠ Thus, all assessment items for PSYC7454 must be attempted and receive a mark of at least 50% in order to pass the course.
Percentage marks for assessment will be rounded to the whole number as per the standard convention ( > 0.5 rounded to 1).
ﾠ
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
Coursework Attendance Requirements
For MPsychOrg and PhD/MPsychOrg students - Students are expected to attend all classes during the 13ﾠweeks of semester. Absences will be granted for for exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of the Course Coordinator. If you cannot attend class in a particular week, it is expected that you inform the relevant Course Coordinator prior to class and provide supporting documentation.
ﾠ
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Workshop |
Wk 1-Organisational Psychology & Systems Thinking Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Workshop |
Wk 2 - Emotions & Happiness in Organisations Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Workshop |
Wk 3 - Work Across the Lifespan Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Workshop |
Wk 4- Occ Health Psych: Stress & Work-Life Balance Online Live Classroom via Zoom/Teams Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Workshop |
Wk 5- Culture, Climate, Institutional Logics Two page summary of idea for org problem to be submitted for feedback this week. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L06 |
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Workshop |
Wk 6 - Dirty & Extreme Work, Occupational Stigma Online Live Classroom via Zoom/Teams Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Workshop |
Wk 7 - Interpersonal Conflict and Bullying Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Workshop |
Wk 8 - Diversity in Teams & Organisations This workshop will include class discussion related to your assessment item on inclusive practices for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Organisations. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04 |
Mid-sem break (21 Apr - 27 Apr) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Mid-Semester Break |
Week 9 (28 Apr - 04 May) |
Practical |
Wk 9 - Practical - Student Presentations I Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Labour Day Public Holiday - No Classes |
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Practical |
Wk 11 - Practical - Student Presentations II Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Workshop |
Wk 12 - Human Factors and Ergonomics A guest lecture and workshop will be presented this week focussing on Accimaps and applied Human Factors practice. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L06 |
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
Workshop |
Wk 13 - Safety & Corporate Social Responsibility Assignment due on Friday this week. Online Live Classroom via Zoom/Teams Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L06 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course:
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: