GROUP DYNAMICS IN ORGANIZATIONS

Single discipline educational activity

Course Sheet

Course code:

PSISOC03

Academic Year of enrolment:

2019

Year of supply:

2019/2020

Type of Course:

Characterising

Degree:

Course of 2nd Cycle Degree in PSYCHOLOGY

Disciplinary Sector:

Social Psychology

Language:

Italian

Location:

CHIETI

Credits:

Programme Year:

Professor and Collaborators:

PAGLIARO Stefano

Cycle:

First semester

Hours of classroom activity:

Individual study hours:

136

Prerequisites:

We recommend that students have already acquired the theoretical (social psychology) and psychometric skills at the BA degree level. These notions can be acquired on the following textbooks:
Hewstone M., Stroebe W., Jonas K. (2016) An Introduction to Social Psychology, 6th Edition. Wiley.
Mcburney, D.H., White, T.L. (2004). research methods. Thomson/Wadsworth

Objectives

The course contributes to the realization of the educational objectives MA in Psychology providing the tools for the understanding of in-depth knowledge of group dynamics both at the theoretical level and at the applied level to organizations. Furthermore, the course intends to familiarize students with the main theoretical paradigms that characterize contemporary psychosocial empirical research and to deepen some of the related investigation strategies (eg experimental, quasi-experimental, longitudinal research, qualitative research strategies, sampling techniques).

Expected learning outcomes:
The course aims to complete the training of students with useful concepts and tools to deepen the critical aspects of group dynamics within organizations and the research methodology in social and organizational contexts. Student training will therefore be enriched with the skills described below.

Ability to understand and criticize.
At the end of the course student will have to have acquired knowledge and understanding skills with respect to:
- the typical and atypical aspects of intra-group dynamics, with particular reference to the organizational context;
- the main psychosocial processes that govern interdependence within groups;
- the interpretation of the empirical data emerging from research in the field of social and organizational psychology;
- the critical aspects and strengths of research in social and organizational psychology;
- the critical aspects and strengths of different methods of investigation in psychology;

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding.
At the end of the course students will have to have acquired the ability to integrate knowledge and manage the complexity in the study of group and organizational processes, as well as to be able to formulate hypotheses on the typical and atypical functioning of groups starting from behavioral data detected through surveys and group-based data collection procedures.

Autonomy of judgment:
At the end of the course students will have to have acquired the ability to evaluate group dynamics in social and organizational contexts, and design and carry out research in social and group psychology, with particular reference to the organizational context;

Communication skills.
At the end of the course the student must know how to use the language of research in social and organizational psychology. Furthermore, the ability to communicate clearly and unambiguously their knowledge and ideas on the functioning of groups and organizations to specialists and non-specialist interlocutors must be acquired.

Ability to learn.
At the end of the course students will have to have acquired the ability to deepen the topics of interest in a self-directed or autonomous way.

Contents

The course is divided into three modules.
1 A first module will explore the theoretical aspects of intra-group dynamics, in the light of the main conceptualizations of social psychology. Some thematic areas of particular relevance will be illustrated, such as the structural aspects of the groups (roles and status systems ), social groups formation and maintenance, the processes of cohesion and exchange, norms and deviance management, social influence, leadership, cohesion.
2 A second module will apply the theoretical aspects studied in depth in the first module to the organizational field, in the light of a general theoretical frame represented by the social identity approach. The motivation and commitment processes, group decision-making processes, conflict and its management, communication and ethical climate will therefore be illustrated.
3. The third module will be predominantly methodological and will cover scientific investigation strategies in social and organizational psychology. The main theoretical paradigms that characterize contemporary psychosocial empirical research will be presented, and it will be deepen some of the related investigation strategies (eg experimental and quasi-experimental research, longitudinal research, strategies of qualitative research, sampling techniques). They will be then examined the different data collection techniques (eg questionnaires, individual interviews and focus groups, observation etc.). Issues concerning the validity of research and the deontological aspects involved will be further discussed.

Extended Syllabus

1) Social groups.
2) Research methods related to psychology of groups
3) The formation and maintenance of social groups: Team Building, Group socialization processes, development of working groups, cohesion and exchange processes, norms and the deviance management.
4) Structural aspects of groups: roles and status systems.
5) Leadership: antecedents, processes and consequences.
6) Social influence.
7) Motivation and commitment.
8) Productivity and performance in work groups.
9) Group-based decision-making processes.
10) Work, cohesion and conflicts in groups.
11) Communication and information management.
12) Ethical climate within the working groups

Recommended Bibliography

Haslam, S. A. (2015). Psychology in organizations. Sage Pub. € 46,00.
Howitt, D., & Cramer, D. (2011). Introduction to Research Methods in Psychology. Prentice Hall.
Scientific papers provided by the professor and uploaded on the e-learning webpage.

Methods of Provision

Conventional

Teaching Methods

The Course is structured in 48 hours of frontal teaching, divided into lessons of 2 or 3 hours, two or three times a week, according to the academic calendar. Lectures are theoretical lessons. During the course, practical exercises are planned to consolidate the theoretical knowledge acquired, as well as to divulge the course contents to an expert and non-expert public (16 hours). There will also be classroom exercises, guided discussions and group work. Attendance is optional, however given the complexity of the topics covered it is strongly recommended to attend the course.

Evaluation methods

Verification of learning:

The exam consists of three parts. Written test, presentation to expert public, abstract presentation to non-expert public. The written test will take place on the date established by the didactic secretariat and consists in verifying the knowledge through open-ended questions on the course contents. The presentation to an expert public involves a presentation by the student (or groups of students), with the support of a PowerPoint presentation or similar programs, of a topic of interest to colleagues in the classroom. The presentation should last 8-10 minutes. The abstract consists of simulating an intervention in a popular magazine or a newspaper to explain one of the topics covered during the course. The final grade will be out of thirty and calculated as follows: 70% Written exam; 20% Presentation to an expert public; 10% Abstract according to the following formula:
(written test mark x 70, grade presentation to expert public x 20, abstract vote x 10) / 100

Contacts/More Information

Students will be received on Wednesday mornings in the teacher's office. During the course, tutors will be available for ongoing support

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

Aree