PSISOC03 - GROUP DYNAMICS IN ORGANIZATIONS

The course contributes to the realization of the educational objectives MA in Psychology providing the tools for the understanding of in-depth knowledge of group dynamics both at the theoretical level and at the applied level to organizations. Furthermore, the course intends to familiarize students with the main theoretical paradigms that characterize contemporary psychosocial empirical research and to deepen some of the related investigation strategies (eg experimental, quasi-experimental, longitudinal research, qualitative research strategies, sampling techniques).



Expected learning outcomes:

The course aims to complete the training of students with useful concepts and tools to deepen the critical aspects of group dynamics within organizations and the research methodology in social and organizational contexts. Student training will therefore be enriched with the skills described below.



Ability to understand and criticize.

At the end of the course student will have to have acquired knowledge and understanding skills with respect to:

- the typical and atypical aspects of intra-group dynamics, with particular reference to the organizational context;

- the main psychosocial processes that govern interdependence within groups;

- the interpretation of the empirical data emerging from research in the field of social and organizational psychology;

- the critical aspects and strengths of research in social and organizational psychology;

- the critical aspects and strengths of different methods of investigation in psychology;



Ability to apply knowledge and understanding.

At the end of the course students will have to have acquired the ability to integrate knowledge and manage the complexity in the study of group and organizational processes, as well as to be able to formulate hypotheses on the typical and atypical functioning of groups starting from behavioral data detected through surveys and group-based data collection procedures.



Autonomy of judgment:

At the end of the course students will have to have acquired the ability to evaluate group dynamics in social and organizational contexts, and design and carry out research in social and group psychology, with particular reference to the organizational context;



Communication skills.

At the end of the course the student must know how to use the language of research in social and organizational psychology. Furthermore, the ability to communicate clearly and unambiguously their knowledge and ideas on the functioning of groups and organizations to specialists and non-specialist interlocutors must be acquired.



Ability to learn.

At the end of the course students will have to have acquired the ability to deepen the topics of interest in a self-directed or autonomous way.