Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Organisational Psychology
Course Code
VPUPK_363
Branch of Science
Psychology; Social Psychology
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Psychology
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time; Part-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Gitāna Dāvidsone
Structure Unit Manager
Kristīne Mārtinsone
Structural Unit
Department of Health Psychology and Paedagogy
Contacts
Riga, 16 Dzirciema Street, Riga, vppk@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
To develop students’ understanding of the foundations and methods of work and organizational psychology and of psychological processes in the work environment, in line with professional ethics and legal regulations.
Preliminary Knowledge
Cognitive and emotion psychology. Social psychology.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.1. Defines work and organizational psychology as a branch of psychology and describes its subject matter and current issues. 2. Identifies and defines the core concepts of work and organizational psychology. 3. Understands the nature and basic principles of research and development methods used in work and organizational psychology, as well as their possibilities and limitations. 4. Understands and explains the nature of the main theoretical approaches in work and organizational psychology, as well as their possibilities and limitations in understanding psychological processes in the work environment. 5.Understands the importance of the fundamental principles of professional ethics in psychology and the legal regulation of the work environment in research on psychological processes in organizations.
Skills
1.1.Is able to make a well-reasoned selection and correctly apply the core concepts and theoretical approaches of work and organizational psychology in the analysis of psychological processes in the work environment. 2. Is able to analyze work motivation, job satisfaction, and employee engagement at the individual, team, and organizational levels, based on theories of work and organizational psychology. 3. Is able to identify and analyze manifestations of power, influence, and leadership, including leadership styles and destructive forms of power in the work environment. 4. Is able to analyze job requirements and job profiles, identify the skills and competencies required for a position, and prepare a structured selection interview, taking into account ethical and legal aspects of personnel selection. 5. Is able to analyze approaches to performance management, including goal formulation, the definition of performance criteria, and the planning of developmental feedback in the work environment.
Competences
1.1. Reflects on the role of organizational culture, psychological climate, and leadership in organizational functioning and development. 2. Critically compares approaches to the study of psychological processes in the work environment at the individual, team, and organizational levels, justifying their possibilities and limitations. 3. Integrates theoretical approaches of work and organizational psychology with professional ethical and legal considerations in the analysis of psychological processes in the work environment.
Assessment
Individual work
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Independent individual and group work |
-
|
-
|
|
Students independently study the sources and other materials listed in the required reading and the e-learning environment in preparation for lectures and seminars. Depending on the topic of the class and the nature of the assignment, independent work may include the completion of individual tasks (e.g., the preparation of an essay) or participation in group assignments, including the preparation of presentations. Individual student contributions to group assignments are taken into account when determining the assessment of group presentations in seminars. |
||
Examination
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Small group presentations in a seminar on leadership |
15.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
In small group presentations during seminars, both the content of the presentation (60% of the total grade) and presentation skills (40% of the total grade) are assessed. Students working in the same small group receive the same presentation grade if all group members agree that each member’s contribution to the preparation of the presentation has been equal. The group may decide to reduce the presentation grade of one or more group members (by up to 20%) if it is determined that a member has made an insufficient or no contribution to the group’s work. |
||
|
2.
Small group presentation in a seminar on personnel selection and assessment |
15.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
In small group presentations during seminars, both the content of the presentation (60% of the total grade) and presentation skills (40% of the total grade) are assessed. Students working in the same small group receive the same presentation grade if all group members agree that each member’s contribution to the preparation of the presentation has been equal. The group may decide to reduce the presentation grade of one or more group members (by up to 20%) if it is determined that a member has made an insufficient or no contribution to the group’s work. |
||
|
3.
Small group presentation in a seminar on performance management |
15.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
In small group presentations during seminars, both the content of the presentation (60% of the total grade) and presentation skills (40% of the total grade) are assessed. Students working in the same small group receive the same presentation grade if all group members agree that each member’s contribution to the preparation of the presentation has been equal. The group may decide to reduce the presentation grade of one or more group members (by up to 20%) if it is determined that a member has made an insufficient or no contribution to the group’s work. |
||
|
4.
Essay – analysis of one’s own study/work motivation |
15.00% from total grade
|
Test
|
|
Students prepare a written analysis–reflection, of their choice, on their individual study and/or work motivation, illustrating their personal motivators as well as factors that enhance or hinder their motivation through examples. The length of the essay is 800–1000 words. |
||
|
5.
Self-assessment tests on the topics covered in the lectures |
-
|
-
|
|
Self-administered self-assessment tests assigned during or after lectures allow students to assess how well they have acquired the concepts and theories explained in the classes. |
||
|
6.
Case analysis in small groups |
40.00% from total grade
|
10 points
|
|
In the final exam, students working in small groups (4–5 members) draw a case prepared by the instructor and have 30 minutes to prepare its analysis and presentation. During group presentations, members of other groups ask additional questions. The exam evaluates the content of the presentation (50% of the total grade), presentation delivery (20%), the quality of questions posed to other groups (15%), and the quality of responses to questions from other groups (15%). The group may decide to reduce the grade of one or more of its members for the case analysis (by up to 20%) if it is determined that the respective member has made an insufficient or no contribution to the group’s work. |
||
Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Organizational psychology as a branch of psychology, its history, and current developments.
Description
Organizational psychology as a branch of psychology, its historical development, and its links with other branches of psychology and the social sciences. Contemporary issues in organizational psychology. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Research methods in organisational psychology.
Description
Research methods in organizational psychology, their advantages and limitations. Ethical considerations in the study of individuals and organizations in the work environment. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Work motivation, job satisfaction, and employee engagement.
Description
Individual behaviour in the workplace. The concept of work motivation and the main theories. Job satisfaction, employee loyalty, and engagement, as well as factors that enhance or hinder them. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Mental health, psychological safety, and well-being in the workplace.
Description
Mental health, psychological safety, and well-being in the workplace. Work-related stress, its causes and contributing factors in the work environment. Burnout and its signs. Burnout prevention in organizations. |
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Application of work motivation theories in the analysis of work motivation.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Team formation and development in organizations. Diversity management as a resource in organizations.
Description
Characteristics of effective teams and team formation. Types of teams and team processes. Approaches to diversity management and inclusion in organizations. |
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Team cooperation and conflict management in organizations.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Power, influence, and leadership in organizations.
Description
Power and influence in organizations and their sources. Management and leadership in organizations. Types of leadership styles and their impact on work productivity and employee engagement. Bossing and mobbing in the workplace, their characteristics, and response strategies in organizations. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Organizational culture and psychological climate in the workplace.
Description
The concept of organizational culture. Types and characteristics of organizational culture. The role of organizational culture in organizational development. Psychological climate and its role in the workplace. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Understanding Leadership Styles and Behaviours at Work.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
The employee in the organization: psychological perspectives on job design, personnel selection, and onboarding.
Description
Psychological aspects of employee management in organizations. The employee life cycle in organizations. Personnel selection and onboarding from a psychological perspective. Job design and the competency-based approach in organizations. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Psychological aspects of performance management and development.
Description
Psychological aspects of performance management and development in organizations. Goal setting and the definition of performance criteria. The role of feedback in performance development. Learning and employee development in organizations. Talent management from an organizational psychology perspective. |
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Job analysis. Personnel Selection and Assessment Methods.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Psychological Aspects of Performance Management and Development.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Organizational development and change management.
Description
Organizational development and change management. Organizational development methods. Employee attitudes toward change, engagement, and resistance in the change process. |
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Methods for Studying Organizations: Possibilities and Limitations.
|
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
32 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam
PART-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Organizational psychology as a branch of psychology, its history, and current developments.
Description
Organizational psychology as a branch of psychology, its historical development, and its links with other branches of psychology and the social sciences. Contemporary issues in organizational psychology. |
|
Research methods in organisational psychology.
Description
Research methods in organizational psychology, their advantages and limitations. Ethical considerations in the study of individuals and organizations in the work environment. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Work motivation, job satisfaction, and employee engagement.
Description
Individual behaviour in the workplace. The concept of work motivation and the main theories. Job satisfaction, employee loyalty, and engagement, as well as factors that enhance or hinder them. |
|
Mental health, psychological safety, and well-being in the workplace.
Description
Mental health, psychological safety, and well-being in the workplace. Work-related stress, its causes and contributing factors in the work environment. Burnout and its signs. Burnout prevention in organizations. |
-
Consultation
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Work motivation, job satisfaction, and employee engagement.
Description
Individual behaviour in the workplace. The concept of work motivation and the main theories. Job satisfaction, employee loyalty, and engagement, as well as factors that enhance or hinder them. |
|
Mental health, psychological safety, and well-being in the workplace.
Description
Mental health, psychological safety, and well-being in the workplace. Work-related stress, its causes and contributing factors in the work environment. Burnout and its signs. Burnout prevention in organizations. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Team formation and development in organizations. Diversity management as a resource in organizations.
Description
Characteristics of effective teams and team formation. Types of teams and team processes. Approaches to diversity management and inclusion in organizations. |
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Team formation and development in organizations. Diversity management as a resource in organizations.
Description
Characteristics of effective teams and team formation. Types of teams and team processes. Approaches to diversity management and inclusion in organizations. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Power, influence, and leadership in organizations.
Description
Power and influence in organizations and their sources. Management and leadership in organizations. Types of leadership styles and their impact on work productivity and employee engagement. Bossing and mobbing in the workplace, their characteristics, and response strategies in organizations. |
|
Organizational culture and psychological climate in the workplace.
Description
The concept of organizational culture. Types and characteristics of organizational culture. The role of organizational culture in organizational development. Psychological climate and its role in the workplace. |
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
The employee in the organization: psychological perspectives on job design, personnel selection, and onboarding.
Description
Psychological aspects of employee management in organizations. The employee life cycle in organizations. Personnel selection and onboarding from a psychological perspective. Job design and the competency-based approach in organizations. |
|
Psychological aspects of performance management and development.
Description
Psychological aspects of performance management and development in organizations. Goal setting and the definition of performance criteria. The role of feedback in performance development. Learning and employee development in organizations. Talent management from an organizational psychology perspective. |
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Organizational development and change management.
Description
Organizational development and change management. Organizational development methods. Employee attitudes toward change, engagement, and resistance in the change process. |
-
Unaided Work
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Psychological Aspects of Performance Management and Development.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Organizational development and change management.
Description
Organizational development and change management. Organizational development methods. Employee attitudes toward change, engagement, and resistance in the change process. |
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Job analysis. Personnel Selection and Assessment Methods.
|
-
Test
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
3
|
Topics
|
Methods for Studying Organizations: Possibilities and Limitations.
|
-
Consultation
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Study room
|
2
|
Topics
|
Psychological Aspects of Performance Management and Development.
|
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
18 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Ābeltiņa, M. (2023). Profesionālā izdegšana, Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC.
2.
Dāvidsone, G. (2008). Organizāciju efektivitātes modelis. Rīga: ODA
3.
Dāvidsone, G. (Red.) (2008). Līderības fenomens Latvijā. Rīga: ODA.
4.
Kamerāde, D. (2015). Cilvēks organizācijā. Organizāciju psiholoģija. No: Mārtinsone, K., Miltuze, A. (red.), Psiholoģija. 3. grāmata (9.-31.lpp). Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC.
5.
Reņģe, V. (2010). Mūsdienu organizāciju psiholoģija. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC.
6.
Yales, J., Zibarras, L., & Mahmood, L. (Eds.). (2023). Organisational Psychology. An Essential Guide. Routledge.
7.
Arnold, J., Coyne, I., Randall, R., Pattterson, F. (2020.) Work Psychology: Understanding Human Behaviour In The Workplace. (7thedition). Pearson.
Additional Reading
1.
Kalniņa - Sturīte, A., Gavare, J. (2011). Divpadsmit iedvesmas stāsti. Rīga: k.Port.
2.
Reņģe, V. (2007). Mūsdienu organizāciju psiholoģija. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC.
3.
Schein, E. H. (2017). Organizational Culture and Leadership. 5th Edition. Hoboken: Wiley.
Other Information Sources
1.
Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology
2.
European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology
3.
European Work & Organizational Psychologist
4.
Industrial and Organizational Psychology
5.
International Journal of Industrial Organization
6.
International Review of Industrial & Organizational Psychology