Occupational and Organisational Psychology MSc

You will develop your understanding of academic conventions in UK higher education aligned to your level of study, including expectations around critical analysis, structure, argumentation, evidencing, and referencing. The module focuses on developing communication strategies that will help you express your ideas clearly and coherently in written assignments and spoken activities. You will also reflect on your current academic and language skills and develop strategies for development ahead of your assessments.

The module is designed to give you a theoretical and practical knowledge of common and more advanced quantitative and qualitative methods of collecting and analysing data in psychology. A range of methods will be studied, and relevant hardware and software will be used in exercises. The communication of findings according to the most recent conventions and with due regard to the audience will be addressed. The approach is to provide a theoretical background for each technique, so that you are not simply capable of carrying out and reporting analyses, but also capable of reflecting critically on their appropriateness in psychological research and practice.

In this module, you will be able to independently conceptualise, plan and undertake a novel piece of research that contributes to psychological knowledge and understanding. You will critically evaluate current theories and evidence to generate your own research question. You will use the relevant ethical guidelines to design a feasible project plan. You will develop your independent research skills during this module and identify points of collaboration with supervisors, research staff and other potential stakeholders. You will use a variety of relevant skills, techniques, and research methods to implement your study and finally, you will have the opportunity to disseminate your findings in written form.

You will learn about the field of workplace well-being from both a theoretical/academic and applied perspective. The module focuses upon the role and impact of modern workplaces and working practices on employee health and well-being and the evidence base for creating good working environments that facilitate health and well-being. Topics covered include occupational stress, burnout, workplace bullying and interventions to promote well-being at work. You will develop a broad perspective on employee health and well-being that takes account of a range of factors including psychological and social factors that impact employee well-being. The combined academic and practical focus will enhance your capability to apply an evidence-based approach to issues relating to well-being at work.

This module will introduce the psychological theory and empirical evidence behind the learning and career development of individuals in a work context. You will learn and evaluate theories of career development, lifelong learning, occupational choice, training, employability, coaching and counselling. You will develop an appreciation of applied approaches taken by individuals and organisations to develop careers and compare them for their effectiveness. A broad organisational perspective will be taken to employee development which includes contemporary issues affecting careers. You will reflect critically upon the theoretical and empirical literature by applying this to real world scenarios, developing an appreciation of the psychological processes which can impact upon career.

You will learn about the field of organisational psychology from both a theoretical/academic and applied perspective. The module adopts a widened organisational perspective and considers topics such as organisational culture, organisational change and development, leadership and team working. You will learn to develop a critical approach to theories and models and to identify the practical, professional and ethical issues inherent in undertaking research and practice in the area of occupational and organisational psychology.

You will learn about how organisations select and assess employees in the workplace. As you examine the range of approaches that are adopted by organisations, you will be able to understand how they are utilised most effectively. Topics include: effective use of job analysis, the use of psychometric tests such as cognitive ability and personality tests, and the design and scoring of job interviews and assessment centres.

You will learn about how organisational consultancy is applied in the field of organisational psychology from both a theoretical/academic and applied perspectives. Topics covered will include approaches to consultancy, applied data analysis for organisational problems, and issues central to professional identity and employability. You will learn to develop a critical approach to theories and models and to identify the practical, professional and ethical issues inherent in undertaking research and practice in the area of organisational psychology.