Work and Organizational Psychology - Seminar class

Seminarhold 1: Paul Conway - The psychosocial work environment, stress and organisational behaviour: issues in assessment and intervention.

How does the psychosocial work environment affect stress, work engagement and organizational behaviour? How do we assess the psychosocial work environment in work organisations and design effective intervention processes?

These are common questions facing occupational and organisational psychologists as they deal with issues related to the psychosocial work environment and its impact on employees’ health and well-being. The aim of this seminar is to introduce students to theories, methods and procedures that can be used to assess and manage the psychosocial work environment in work organisations. 

Key topics covered in the course are:

• Theoretical and methodological approaches to the understanding of different types of job demands and job resources, and their differential impact on health, well-being and organizational behaviour;
• Theoretical and practical approaches to occupational health assessment and intervention; 
• Workplace bullying: concept, measurement, antecedents and consequences, and intervention levels. 

   

Through group activities and case analyses, the students will be introduced to the challenges of translating theory into practice.

Type of instruction and exam regulations:

A substantial part of the teaching is based on the active participation of students in group activities proposed during the course. Therefore, you should expect a limited use of lectures during the seminar. Preparation on the assigned literature is recommended prior to each class. The students are expected to deliver two individual assignments consisting of papers wherein theories, methods and procedures learned during the course will be applied to the analysis of specific problems relevant to the course subject. Each student is also required to provide feedback on one assignment elaborated by a peer. At the end of the seminar, the students must submit to the teacher a portfolio including all the material produced during the course.