02523 - Occupational Psychology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student: - knows and understands the main concepts and theoretical approaches developed in the field of Work Psychology to analyse the interdependent relationships between the individual, the work task and the organisation; - develops specific relational skills for group interaction and the management of interpersonal work-related conflicts.

Course contents

The course provides a basic knowledge of the main theories and studies that have marked the development of Occupational Psychology, with a particular focus on the studies applied in Sports Psychology.
The programme will cover the basic elements of research methodology, the individual-group-organisation interaction, the levels of analysis and intervention of the discipline. Some of the key concepts of the discipline such as motivational processes, work socialisation and key performance factors will be discussed. Based on the work demands and resources model, particular attention will be paid to the concept of engagement and individual well-being, performance-related safety, human factors and to task, context and adaptive performance analysis techniques.
The second part of the programme will focus on describing and exploring concepts related to group dynamics and norms, roles within the group, conflict management and leadership roles, with the aim of maximising group performance. Psychological aspects related to the management and organisation of sports facilities, venues and events will also be covered, with particular attention to communication skills and practices.

Readings/Bibliography

The slides and scientific articles presented during the course and uploaded to the VIRTUALE e-learning platform will constitute the core material for the exam.

Suggested texts and further reading

Sarchielli, G., e Fraccaroli, F. (2017). Introduzione alla psicologia del lavoro. Bologna: Il Mulino.

Malaguti, D. (2018). Fare squadra. Psicologia dei gruppi di lavoro. Bologna: Il Mulino.

Scientific articles on specific topics will be made available through the VIRTUALE e-learning platform.

Teaching methods

Participation. The course is designed to be highly interactive, relying on the active participation of students. attendance will be recorded and is therefore strongly encouraged. Small group work, simulations, case studies and classroom presentations are the main elements of the course.
Individual and small group work may include classroom presentations, delivery of short written papers and discussions stimulated by scientific articles provided on the VIRTUALE platform.

Policy on the use of technology in the classroom. Students are encouraged to take notes on their personal laptops, any other use is highly discouraged. The use of any other devices in class (mobile phones, cameras, etc.) is not permitted. Students who need to use voice recorders for class lectures must receive explicit permission from the teacher to do so.

Code of Ethics. All students are required to follow the University of Bologna's code of ethics. Furthermore, students are expected to treat others, themselves, the professor and the teaching staff with respect and courtesy, including respect for diversity of all kinds.

Assessment methods

For non-attending students, the questions refer exclusively to the suggested texts. The test will be written, with two sections: 25 multiple choice questions and 5 open questions, covering most of the topics of the programme. For the multiple choice questions, students will have to choose the only correct answer out of the four presented. For each incorrect answer 0.5 points will be deducted. Open questions require students to prepare a clear and complete answer in approximately 10-12 lines. The time for the 30-question examination is 60 minutes.


For attending students, the examination will consist of only 15 questions, 12 multiple choice questions and 3 open questions. No points will be deducted for wrong answers. The questions will refer to the course lectures (slides) and the assigned texts. The time for the final examination for frequent students is 60 minutes. The activities carried out during the course lectures will contribute to the final grade for frequent students (for a maximum of 15 points).

In general, the evaluation of open questions will take into account the relevance, clarity and completeness of the answer.

Teaching tools

The VIRTUALE e-learning platform will be the main support for the teaching activity.

Scientific articles, useful materials, further readings, lecture slides and assignments will be shared on the e-learning platform.
At the beginning of the course, all information related to the course (individual assignments, rules for group work deadlines, evaluation criteria, etc.) will be available on the VIRTUALE platform for download and will be explained during the first day of class.

Students with disabilities or specific learning needs are invited to contact the teacher to discuss special needs or possibilities for adapting examination methods.

Office hours

See the website of Marco De Angelis