02523 - Psychology of Work

Learning outcomes

 At the end of the training activity the student : is familiar with and understands the main explicative theories ( e.g theory of activity, motivation, work stress, etc.) in  the topic of Work Psychology. He/she is able to define the professional behavior of the aims of work psychology with a particular concern of the analysis and evaluation of work conditions, their consequences on the quality of life and personal and organizational prevention strategies.

Course contents

The 8CFU course is divided into two parts.

FIRST PART

The first part examines in depth the themes of advanced work psychology, it proposes a knowledge of the theoretical research aspects and a professional practical training which is a characteristic of work psychology. The key aims are : 1) comprehension and application of the main valuable constructions for the study of work behavior in a psycho-social prospective. 2 )comprehension and ability to critically discuss the proposed topics.

Contents:

- Main theories and areas of research in work psychology.

- The significance and evaluation of work in people's lives.

- Working activity. Performance and results.

- Motivation, emotions and work.

- Counterproductive behavior.

 SECOND PART

The second part basically proposes to analyze and examine in depth the assumed theories relative to the quality of the working life and the relative consequences on individuals and organizations. The main didactic aims are to teach the essential instruments to a)analyze and evaluate work conditions and potential work stressors. b) analyze and evaluate the consequences of these work conditions.

Contents:

The contents are formulated in two categories.

 a) The quality of working life : concepts and theory

- psycho-social risks and health factors .

- work stress and coping. Theoretic models, evaluation instruments and research results

- conciliation work-family. Examination in depth of antecedents and organizational  policies

 b) Quality of working life. Consequences on the individual and organizations.

- Burnout and engagement. Theoretic models and measuring instruments.

- Mobbing. Theoretic approach and intervention guide lines.

Readings/Bibliography

For the purpose  of the exams, slides  and  the utilized lesson material (available for download from the platform model) and the following bibliography should be prepared.

1) Sarchielli G. Fraccaroli F.(2010). Introduzione alla Psicologia del lavoro, Bologna, Il Mulino.

2) Fraccaroli F., Balducci C. (2011) Stress e rischi psicosociali nelle organizzazioni, Bologna, Il Mulino.

3) Borgogni, L., Consiglio, C. (2005). Job burnout: evoluzione di un costrutto. Giornale Italiano di Psicologia, a. XXXII, 1, 23-60

 During the course articles and work material for the development of assignments will be indicated:

- Airila, A., Hakanen, J. J., Schaufeli, W. B., Luukkonen, R., Punakallio, A., & Lusa, S. (2014). Are job and personal resources associated with work ability 10 years later? The mediating role of work engagement. Work & Stress, 28(1), 87-105

Teaching methods

Didactic methods.

The didactic methods used for the course are : lessons, discussions, assigned homework and group exercise. To improve knowledge and skills and to simplify the learning process, work groups on specific topics will be formed together with the professor, there will be the preparation and presentation of short papers on behalf of the students. Three different activities will be documented by the student in his own personal Portofolio. (this new didactic method will be illustrated to the student at the beginning of the course.)

Rules and regulations for a correct didactic function.

1)Attendance to lessons is compulsory and will be verified everyday: the exam (final evaluation)will take into account not only the reading of texts but also the discussion and participation, therefore attendance gives a good didactic advantage to the student. In fact the interactive experience proposed in class aims to favour learning and reduce, in part  the program to be studied autonomously at home.

2) Students who have problems on attending regularly will have a different  reading program and exam model. Students are strongly encouraged to actively participate in the didactic work and to complete the assigned homework .

3) Students are encouraged to actively participate in the course and to progressively study the assigned homework : they are also responsible for keeping up dated on what has been disclosed in class or on the professor's web site (including variations of the program and on the programmed activities)

4) It is expected that students behave correctly according to the rules of their future profession. This concerns not only avoiding offensive behavior which could be prosecuted on a disciplinary level (e.g copying from class mates or from internet, falsifying data) but also respect of the social rules(punctuality,  not leaving lessons early or without permission, incorrect use of the university e mail address, not to eat or drink during classes or keep a mobile phone turned on etc)

Assessment methods

A) For students who attend the course, different work activities and tests are expected  which inserted in the student's Portofolio provide a font of evaluation and lead to the final evaluation. Specifically, the following products/projects will be required and evaluated: 1) Group relationship; 2) Describe theory; 3) Power point presentation; 4) Case Study; 5) Portofolio

The exam and the final vote are therefore based on the evaluation of the prepared products/projects during the course, meeting the deadlines indicated and then collected in the portofolio. Below is represented the point/vote scale of the different products/projects.

Asseignment                                         Vote

Group relation                                        Max 8 point

Describe Theory                                     Max 4 point

Power point presentation                         Max 3 point

Case study                                              Max 8 point

Portfolio                                                  Max 7 point

Voto finale                                                30/30

The relative instructions, products/projects and their point value for the final exam will be given to the student at the beginning of the course.

B) For students who do not regularly attend, the final exam (with the study programme which includes ALL the texts contained in the bibliographic section) consists in :

- A final report of about 15 pages (times new roman, interline 1,5) prepared at home and  handed in to the professor one week before the chosen date of the written exam. This relation/report must be of a supplementary nature, discussing and connecting two or more topics chosen from the list of contents of the course.

- A written exam in class that consists in a single test pertinent to the contents of parts I and II of the course. This involves six, short, open questions (to be answered in 1 hour 30) relevant to the dealt topics in the two parts of the course and contained in the  bibliography texts.

Teaching tools

-         Power point, paper-pencil instruments

-         Where possible consultable study material will be made available for down load from the professor's web site.

-         The course makes use of the platform model as a repository of didactic material and for communication and /or forums.

Office hours

See the website of Dina Guglielmi