96141 - Research and Master Thesis

Learning outcomes

By the end of this activity, students will show: - the mastery of basic/fundamental topics of psychosocial and organizational research - the mastery of research methods for psychosocial and organizational studies - the ability to carry out a psychosocial and organizational research.

Course contents

MODULE 1 “Advanced statistics for research data management” (15h, Giulia Casu)

At the end of the module students will understand the relationships between research hypotheses, study design, and analytical choices. Students will understand and be able to use and report some advanced statistical techniques applicable in the work, organizational and personnel psychology context. Students will learn how to work with others collaboratively in designing and developing research, and presenting the results.

Topics:

• Linear & Logistic Regression
• Mediation & Moderation Analysis
• Linking research hypotheses to statistical analysis choices
• How to report research findings

MODULE 2 (15h, Silvia Moscatelli):

At the end of the module students will be able to write a literature review, and to formulate research questions and hypotheses; to identify limitations and future direction of your research; to write the “Discussion” section of the RP.

Topics:

• Scientific writing
• Writing the literature review, research questions and hypotheses
• Writing the “Discussion” section of the research paper
• “Becoming a reviewer” of a scientific paper: an exercise

MODULE 3 “Human and Organizational Factors: Methods and Applications” (15h, Federico Fraboni)

At the end of the module, students will learn the leading methods and techniques in Human Factors and Ergonomics and how Work and Organizational Psychologists can contribute to developing and evaluating innovative solutions to tackle challenges faced by organizations. Students will learn about conducting research adopting a user-centered design approach and exploiting results to achieve the desired objectives. The module will allow the students to familiarize themselves with different industrial and organizational settings. A basic model of human behaviour with emerging technologies and their applications in organizations will be presented. A specific focus will be devoted to analyzing human-technology interaction and assessing workload/situation awareness.

Topics:

• Human Factors and Ergonomics Methods (e.g., Applied Task Analysis, Usability Testing);
• A basic model of human behavior with emerging technologies (Yan, 2020)
• Evaluation of Technology Acceptance in the organizations;
• User-centered design and interface analysis of digital technologies and solutions;
• Methods and techniques to appraise Human Performance in safety-critical working environments;
• Assessment of situational awareness and mental workload in operators;
• Human-Robot Collaboration and collaborative assembly workstation features;
• Cases and examples from European and National multidisciplinary projects.

MODULE 4 “Diversity and creativity in organizations” (15h, Simone Donati)

At the end of the module, students will learn professional practices and tools to analyse and understand diversity and creativity/innovation processes within organizations using a multilevel perspective. Students will be able to analyses, understand and design Diversity & Inclusion interventions by paying special attention to their impact on creativity/innovation processes within the organization.

Topics:

• Diversity and creativity/innovation processes within the organization: antecedents, consequences, using a multilevel perspective

• Introduction to basic methods and techniques to assess Diversity constructs (Separation, Variety, Disparity, and Faultlines) within teams and organizations

• Managing creativity and innovation in heterogeneous teams: tools and methods

MODULE 5 (15h, Fabio Massei)

At the end of the module students will know the basics of the Talent Management framework in organizations, with a specific focus on talent assessment and development:

Topics:

• Talent Management in the 21st century
• Talent Assessment: interview, role plays and tests
• Talent Development: coaching

Readings/Bibliography

1. Advanced statistics for research data management

Field, A. (2018). Discovering statistics using SPSS (5th Edn). London: Sage. [Chapters 9, 11, 20]

2. Scientific writing

Kaile, R. V. (2018). Scientific writing for Psychology. SAGE.

3. Human and Organizational Factors: Methods and Applications

Fraboni, F., Gualtieri, L., Millo, F., De Marchi, M., Pietrantoni, L., & Rauch, E. (2021, June). Human-Robot Collaboration During Assembly Tasks: The Cognitive Effects of Collaborative Assembly Workstation Features. In Congress of the International Ergonomics Association (pp. 242-249). Springer, Cham.

Rainieri, G., Fraboni, F., Russo, G., Tušl, M., Pingitore, A., Tessari, A., & Pietrantoni, L. (2021). Visual Scanning Techniques and Mental Workload of Helicopter Pilots During Simulated Flight. Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance, 92(1), 11-19. https://doi.org/10.3357/AMHP.5681.2021

Giusino, D., Fraboni, F., Rainieri, G., De Angelis, M., Tria, A., La Bara, L. M. A., & Pietrantoni, L. (2020, April). Human Factors in Interfaces for Rehabilitation-Assistive Exoskeletons: A Critical Review and Research Agenda. In International Conference on Human Interaction and Emerging Technologies (pp. 356-362). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-44267-5_53

Prati, G., Puchades, V. M., De Angelis, M., Pietrantoni, L., Fraboni, F., Decarli, N., ... & Dardari, D. (2018). Evaluation of user behavior and acceptance of an on-bike system. Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour, 58, 145-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2018.06.005

Tausch, A., Kluge, A., & Adolph, L. (2020). Psychological Effects of the Allocation Process in Human–Robot Interaction–A Model for Research on ad hoc Task Allocation. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 2267.

Yan, Z. (2020). A basic model of human behavior with technologies. Human behavior and emerging technologies, 2(4), 410-415.

4. Diversity and creativity in organizations

Anderson, N., Potočnik, K., & Zhou, J. (2014). Innovation and creativity in organizations: A state-of-the-science review, prospective commentary, and guiding framework. Journal of Management, 40, 1297–1333. doi:10.1177/0149206314527128

Kozlowski, S. W., & Ilgen, D. R. (2006). Enhancing the effectiveness of work groups and teams. Psychological science in the public interest, 7(3), 77-124.

Harrison, D. A., & Klein, K. J. (2007). What's the difference? Diversity constructs as separation, variety, or disparity in organizations. Academy of management review, 32(4), 1199-1228.

Van Knippenberg, D., & Schippers, M. (2007). Work group diversity. Annual review of psychology, 58, 515-541.

5. Talent management

Scott, J. C., & Reynolds, D. H. (2010). Handbook of workplace assessment (Vol. 32). John Wiley & Sons.

Hernez-Broome, G., & Boyce, L. A. (Eds.). (2010). Advancing executive coaching: Setting the course for successful leadership coaching (Vol. 29). John Wiley & Sons.

Teaching methods

The course is structured as a series of interactive seminars.

In-Class attendance. Attendance and active participation are highly important. The joint effort of teachers and students is needed. Although we don’t want to rely in the mere strength of negative reinforcements, penalty will be applied for every class missed without due motivation (1 point for every missed 2 hours).

Ethical code. All students are expected to follow the ethical code of the University of Bologna. http://www.normateneo.unibo.it/NormAteneo/codice_etico.htm

The following actions are not acceptable. PLAGIARISM: representation of another’s work or ideas as one’s own in academic submissions. CHEATING: actual or attempted use of resources not authorized by the instructor for academic submissions. In addition, students are expected to treat each other, themselves and the course instructor and teaching assistant with respect and courtesy, including respecting, and possibly capitalizing on, diversity of all types.

Penalties of late and short / long work. Our Master is challenging, so that cooperation by everyone is needed to make the effort sustainable. Delays in agreed deadlines for assignments area threats for the quality of our work. Any assignment which is submitted after the relevant deadline, without being covered by adequate evidence of medical problems or of another serious emergency, or by the prior permission of the tutor concerned, will be penalized as follows: 1 point will be deducted for every day after the relevant deadline.

Assessment methods

The teacher of each module will ask you to complete assignments and perform some extra activities in case of missing classes.

Teaching tools

Policy on the Use of Technology in the Classroom. Technology is useful, only when aimed to improve performance in the classroom. Therefore all hand held devices (cell phones, cameras, etc.) should be turned off and packed away during class sessions. Computers in the classroom are a tool for work, and should be used for note-taking only. If computers are used for texting, e-mail, or Internet connection (without the explicit permission of the professor), the professor may stop the use of a computer in that class. Students who need to use voice recorders for class lectures are kindly invited to ask for the explicit permission of the professor in order to do so.

Office hours

See the website of Rita Chiesa

See the website of Giulia Casu

See the website of Edita Fino

See the website of Federico Fraboni

See the website of Simone Donati

See the website of Fabio Massei