Advanced Organizational Psychology

SOP 6669

Fall 2002

 

Instructor:    Dr. Steve

Hours:  Tuesday & Thursday, 11:00am – 12:15pm

Room:   41/115

Texts:   Organizational Psychology: A Scientist-Practitioner Approach, Jex, Wiley

            Psychological Dimensions of Organizational Behavior, Staw, Prentice Hall

            Readings on Reserve

 

Purpose:          This course is intended to provide the student with an overview of the area of Organizational Psychology.  This course emphasizes the psychological research, theories, and principles of organizational psychology.  However, the application of research and principles will be discussed as well. This is a seminar course and as such is expected to be highly interactive and a chance for students to share what they've learned from researching individual topics. 

 

Requirements: 

            Discussion leader:  Each student will be asked to select a topic (see schedule) in which they will lead the class discussion.  I will lead the discussion on the first half of the topic covering information in the Jex textbook and students will lead the discussion regarding the readings in the Staw book.  In addition to the assigned readings, the student discussion leader may choose to provide additional material, such as other literature, videos, overheads, demonstrations, or classroom exercises.  This is not intended to be a lecture from the text, but rather a discussion of the material.  Learning exercises are encouraged, but should be kept to a maximum of 30 minutes and should augment, not substitute for, discussion on the topic.  You should prepare a few questions to ask the class that will stimulate discussion and/or prepare an exercise, survey, or supplemental reading (provided to students prior to class meeting).  You may consult with me for ideas (I have some exercises I can share).  Creativity is strongly encouraged.  The idea is to make the topic stimulating and promote learning.

 

            Paper:  Students will be expected to write a paper (no more than 12 pages of text with at least 8 references) typed in APA format (version 5) with headings appropriate for term papers (not research studies).  A limited number of web references are okay to use, but they do not count toward the minimum of 8. The paper is NOT intended to be a research proposal, but rather a literature review (particularly of recent literature) of a topic of interest to you.  The paper will be on any topic of your choice covered during the course or by permission.

 

            Exams:  Students will complete 3 exams addressing only those topics covered in the textbooks and assigned readings.  You will not be tested on any material covered in discussion that did not also appear in the texts.  Both exams will be essay format and will ask both applied and conceptual questions.

 

            Class Participation:  Students will be expected to have read and taken notes on the readings prior to coming to class and actively participate in the discussion. Classmates (and I) will grade each student’s participation at the end of the semester. I have been known to give pop quizzes when I feel that students may not be reading the assignments.  Seminar-style classes do not work well without complete cooperation of the students.  When students cooperate, the class is stimulating, fun, and rewarding, but when they do not it limits the learning potential and becomes tedious to both students and me.  This class will be what you make of it.  

 

 Grading:  The three exams will each count for 20% of your grade (60% total).  The paper will account for 20%.  You will also be graded on your ability to lead the classroom discussion for your assigned week (10%)(see evaluation form).  The final 10% of your grade will come from class participation determined by your average participation ratings(form).     


 

 


Tentative Schedule (Fall 2002)

 

Date

Topic

Jex

Staw

Readings

Disc leader

8/27

Class Intro

 

 

 

 

8/29

Intro to Org Psychology

1

 

 

Dr. Steve

9/3

 

 

 

 

 

9/5

Attraction and Socialization

3

9, 23

*

Shannon 

9/10

 

 

 

 

 

9/12

Productive Behavior in Orgs

4

33, 34

 

 Randi

9/17

 

 

 

 

 

9/19

Job Sat and Org Commit.

5

6, 7, 8,

 

Mellissa 

9/24

 

 

 

 

 

9/26

Rainout!

 

 

 

 

10/1

Exam #1

 

 

 

 

10/3

 Counterpro Bhvr in Orgs

6 

 10, 15, 19

* 

 George

10/8

 

 

 

 

 

10/10

 Occupational Stress

7 

 

* 

 Michelle 

10/15

 

 

 

 

 

10/17

 Theories of Motivation

8 

 2, 3, 4

 

 Sara

10/22

 

 

 

 

 

10/24

 Leadership and Influence Proc

10 

 21, 28

 

 Courtney

10/29

 

 

 

 

 

10/31

Exam #2

 

 

 

 

11/5

 Intro to Group Behavior

11 

 20, 31

 

  Liz

11/7

 

 

 

 

 

11/12

Group Effectiveness

 12

30, 32 

 

Nicolle  

11/14

Class Activity: develop evals

 

 

 

 

11/19

 

 

 

 

 

11/21

Organizational Culture

 15

25, 26

 

Lord 

11/26

Papers Due

 

 

 

 

11/28

Thanksgiving

 

 

 

 

12/3

Organizational Change & Devel

16

40

 

 Sara S.

12/5

Lecturer’s Choice

Peer Evaluations Due (form)

 TBA

 TBA

* 

 Dr. Steve 

12/10

Final Exam Due (Study Guide)

 

 

 

 

                     Note:  Schedule is subject to change at instructor’s discretion.