Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2020-2021 (archived)

Module PSYC3477: Business and Economic Psychology

Department: Psychology

PSYC3477: Business and Economic Psychology

Type Open Level 3 Credits 10 Availability Not available in 2020/21 Module Cap None. Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • PSYC2221 Contemporary and Conceptual Issues in Behavioural Science

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To understand the applications of psychology in work and organisational settings and in economic life.

Content

  • This module examines principles of psychology applied to work, organisations, and economic life
  • Topics can vary from year to year but are likely to include core topics in Business and Economic Psychology, including leadership and management; group processes; behavioural science; human motivation and wellbeing; ethical decision making; individual and team performance; economic life
  • Theory and practice of Business and Economic Psychology as applied to individuals, groups and organisations

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Detailed knowledge of a range of specific research topics and methods in the fields of business and economic psychology
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Ability to review critically and consolidate understanding of a coherent body of psychological knowledge and apply it to a business context
Key Skills:
  • Good written communication skills
  • Good IT skills in word processing, data manipulation and data presentation
  • Ability to work independently in scholarship and research within broad guidelines

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Students' acquisition of detailed knowledge will be facilitated by lectures, (break-out) small group work, audio-visual materials, discussions and detailed reading lists
  • These modes of teaching provide students with detailed knowledge of the key theories and the skills needed to evaluate different theoretical positions in light of current evidence
  • Guided private study and in-class discussions will ensure that students are exposed to a range of different theoretical positions, and encouraged to understand their inter-relations
  • Lectures and in-class discussions will also give students the opportunity to interpret and evaluate the significance of empirical work
  • The summative exam will assess students' detailed subject knowledge
  • The summative exam assesses students' acquired knowledge of theoretical principles and empirical studies and their ability to organise and synthesise them coherently and critically in written form in response to a set question
  • The use of a summative written examination will ensure that students' written communication skills are assessed

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 11 1 per week 2 hours 22
Preparation and Reading 78
Total 100

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Examination 2 hours 100%

Formative Assessment:

None


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University