APPLYING PSYCHOLOGY AT WORK - 2021/2

Module Overview

This module has two overarching themes:

1. 
   Developing skills of consultancy based on the scientist-practitioner model and the BPS consultancy cycle and
   


2. Progressing with students' professional development by gaining awareness of contemporary practical applications of psychology at work through the experiences of practitioners, building ethical sensitivity, critically appraising professional issues, and individual coaching. 

The module will comprise a series of guest sessions, lead by invited guests who will talk about their experiences as practicing work psychologists, and variety of blended learning sessions on professional issues such as regulation, ethics, and consulting. Students will also work in groups on a practical consultancy-based case study and present a practical account of their findings and recommendations, following the BPS consultancy cycle and scientist-practitioner model. Students will be offered 1:1 coaching sessions which are aimed to provide personalized understanding of BPS Chartership program and psychometric assessment. 

Module provider

Surrey Business School

Module Leader

WOODS Steve (SBS)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Contemporary practice examples and practitioner experiences of applying psychology to work (guest speaker sessions)


• The consultancy cycle and scientist-practitioner models


• Ethical and Professional Issues


• BPS and HCPC Codes of Ethical Conduct


• Career development in Occupational and Work and Organizational Psychology


• Case study activity applying the consultancy cycle

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

(As an alternative to the Group Consultancy Assignment): Individual Presentation plus 1500-word Report

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate

Practical skills in applying psychology at work, based on a scientist-practitioner evidence-based consultancy model.

Advanced critical understanding of professional issues and applied practice.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• An individual portfolio (4,500 words) comprising 3 x 1,500 word critical essays on a professional application of psychology covered on the module.

• A group assignment in which the group will investigate and research a case-study based organizational issue or problem and make evidence-based recommendations on interventions that might address the problem. Groups will make a 20-30 minute presentation and submit a 2000 words accompanying report.

Formative assessment

Verbal feedback on class activities. Assignment feedback also serves a formative function.

Feedback

In writing and verbal feedback from the module team based on activities contributing to the group assignment.

In writing to the summative assessment of the individual portfolio.  

Module aims

• Build awareness of contemporary practical applications of psychology at work and the role of evidence in applied practice.
• Develop skills of consultancy based on the scientist-practitioner model and the BPS consultancy cycle.
• Provide experiential learning for students around consulting skills and communicating with clients and stakeholders.
• Develop students' critical understanding of professional issues in applied practice of psychology.
• Provide opportunity for personal career planning and development.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Enable students to develop a practical and critical theoretical perspective on professional and applied issues in work and organizational psychology.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Lectures from the Module Leader and Invited Practitioner Speakers


• Seminar-type small-group activities


• Group case-study activity applying the consultancy cycle to an organizational issue / problem

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: MANM358

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.