B2987 - Laboratory

Learning outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Apply the principles of the Italian Code of Ethics for Psychologists to the design and implementation of psychological interventions.

• Analyze and interpret the theoretical and lexical aspects of the Code of Ethics, relating them to practical professional scenarios.

• Collaborate effectively in small groups to design, develop, and present an intervention project.

• Critically evaluate and provide constructive feedback on psychological intervention projects.

• Integrate theoretical knowledge with practical application through experiential learning and case studies.

Course contents

The laboratory course is aimed at providing students with the theoretical and practical competencies necessary to prepare for the practice of psychology in full compliance with the current Code of Ethics of Italian Psychologists.

Throughout the laboratory sessions, students will explore both the theoretical foundations and key principles of the Code of Ethics, as well as the skills required for the design, planning, and implementation of professional psychological interventions.

Classes will be conducted using a participatory teaching approach. Beginning with a theoretical and lexical analysis of the articles of the Code, students will be encouraged to engage actively in a process of critical reflection aimed at deepening their understanding of topics of particular interest and professional relevance. The discussion of each article will be grounded in the examination of case studies and practical examples drawn from professional practice, in order to promote a concrete and contextualized understanding of ethical principles.

Readings/Bibliography

- Ottoboni, G. (2026). Cenni di deontologia per la professione di psicologo. Eds. Fondazione Bologna University Press. ISBN: 979-12-5477-751 

Students who cannot access the Italian-language materialsmay instead study the distance-learning toolkit. The toolkit addresses only a limited selection of articles from the Italian Code of Ethics for Psychologists. These articles have been selected by the author's toolkit because considered especially relevant for understanding the ethical principles, professional responsibilities, and practical challenges involved in working as a psychologist in Italy.

- Ottoboni, G. (2025). Deontology for the Psychological Profession in Italy. A Distance Learning Toolkit for Students of Psychology. Edizioni: Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna (Link)

Teaching methods

Classes will be delivered in an interactive lecture format, encouraging active student participation.

Teaching methods will include PowerPoint presentations and case-study discussions. In addition, efforts will be made to organize seminars conducted by experts in the field.

Attendance at laboratory sessions is mandatory. Students may be assessed and awarded a pass/fail outcome only if they have attended at least two-thirds of the total contact hours.

Attendance will be monitored through the Virtuale platform. At random times during the course, the instructor will verify students’ actual presence and ensure consistency with the attendance information recorded on Virtuale.

All course materials will be made available through the Virtuale platform.

Assessment methods

Passing will be assessed based on active participation in class and on the production of the project described here below.

At the end of the laboratory, students, working in groups of no more than eight participants, will be required to independently prepare a critical analysis and discussion of a selection of articles from the Code of Ethics, as agreed upon with the instructor. The written assignment must be submitted at least ten days before the date scheduled for the assessment and recording of the laboratory outcome (pass/fail).

AI can be a useful tool to support individual study by providing insights, summaries, and self-assessment pathways. With regard to the assessment of learning, a limited, declared, and non-substantial use of AI is permitted for support activities (e.g., summarization and rephrasing). Substantial use of AI to complete parts of the assessment is not permitted.

Teaching tools

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities

Please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Office hours

See the website of Giovanni Ottoboni