Psychological Sciences and Techniques

The contents of the lectures are centered on the critical analysis of the main research areas and related theoretical models that characterize the Work Psychology. This part of the course is based on four basic thematic areas: the relationship between the individual and his/her work (individual at work), and the influ-ence of the nature of organizational contexts on organizational behavior, stress and psychosocial risk fac-tors, and elements of management psychology of human resources. The practical/experiential component of teaching, provides instead for laboratory activities and/or exercises. In the following, the nature and the temporal articulation of each element of the course are shown schematically. Course introduction (2 modules, 4 hours). Module 0. Past and future of Work Psychology: Classic themes and emerging trends Module 1. Research in Work Psychology The individual at work (9 modules, 18 hours) Module 2. Work motivation Module 3. Job satisfaction Module 4. Current research on emotions at work Module 5. Personality and self-efficacy beliefs Module 6. Core self-evalutation, Psychological Capital, Positivity Module 7. Organizational citizenship behavior Module 8. Burnout, boredom and workhaolism at work The individual and the work environment (5 modules, 10 hours) Module 9. Organizational socialization of new recruits Module 10. The groups at work Module 11. Perspectives on climate and organizational culture Stress and psychosocial risk factors (3 modules, 6 hours) Module 12. Burnout, and work-related stress Module 13. Recent developments in burnout research Module 14. Counterproductive work behaviors Elements of psychology of human resource management (5 modules, 10 hours) Module 15. Work training Module 16. Work performance Module 17. The goal setting theory

The course requires an adequate knowledge of the Italian language. A useful prerequisite is the ability to read and understand texts in English.

The manual is Alessandri, G., Borgogni, L. (Edited by) (2018). Psychology of work: from research to practice (Vol. I and II). Franco Angeli, Rome.

Attendance is governed by the academic regulations.

4.1 Objective of the Exam The exam has a dual objective. First, it assesses the disciplinary knowledge acquired by the student in terms of content comprehension. Second, it evaluates the practical skills demonstrated by the student in the contexts characteristic of the laboratory activities. 4.2 Number of Exams and Timing The exam takes place at the end of the course and covers the entire syllabus. During the course, at the end of each learning unit, the instructor will propose formative assessments in the form of open-ended questions or multiple-choice quizzes. These assessments do not affect the final grade but serve solely to evaluate the student’s current level of knowledge. 4.3 Format, Duration, and Delivery The final exam consists of 60 multiple-choice questions, each with 5 options, covering the course content, plus one open-ended question aimed at evaluating the laboratory skills acquired. An oral integration is typically required by the instructor. 4.4 Final Evaluation The final grade corresponds to the score achieved on the exam. The exam score is determined as follows: up to 30 points for the 60 multiple-choice questions. Additional points may be awarded based on participation in other course activities, according to criteria established and communicated at the beginning of the course.

The course program is organized into two modules, each consisting of six learning units, for a total of twelve units. Each unit includes four video lectures accompanied by slides and study materials, forming the asynchronous instructional component. The video lectures and materials will be gradually made available at the beginning of each week and will remain accessible throughout the duration of the course. Alongside the asynchronous component, the program also includes synchronous instruction delivered through webinars. These live sessions are dedicated to various educational moments: course introduction, feedback on student activities, in-depth discussions with industry experts, and a focus on career opportunities for work psychologists. The course is further enriched by individual activities—such as self-assessment tests and feedback for independently monitoring one's learning—and collaborative activities, which constitute the interactive component of the instruction. These collaborative exercises allow students to consolidate their theoretical knowledge and develop professional skills specific to the field of work psychology through an experiential, Learning by Doing approach.