PSYC42915: Communication and Influence

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• To gain an understanding of processes involved in communication and social influence
• To critically review and apply relevant theories and models to hypothetical organisational scenarios

• This module examines processes of communication and social influence in organisations.
• Topics can vary from year to year but are likely to include communication theory and practice, internal and external communications, effective communication, persuasion and influence strategies, nudge theory and persuasion.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• Critical appreciation of the complexity of organisations
• Detailed knowledge of the key theories of communication and social influence

Subject-specific Skills:

• Ability to critically review organisations communication strategies.
• Ability to apply the knowledge acquired to specific communication and influence processes.

Key Skills:

• Good written and oral communication skills
• Good IT skills in word processing, data manipulation and data presentation
• Ability to work independently in scholarship and research within broad guidelines

• This module will be delivered by the Department of Psychology
• The module will follow a blended learning approach. The mode of delivery will combine face-to-face elements with online elements.
• The face-to-face elements will follow a lecture/workshop format and will take place during in-person block of condensed teaching outside of term time.
• The module will introduce theory and empirical work with applications to communication and social influence. The theoretical components will be partly delivered online, partly face-to-face.
• To make the most of the face-to-face elements, the sessions will be hands-on and will include elements of small group work and student-led discussions, which will enable students to learn independently, share professional experiences, and apply the knowledge acquired in the lectures to practical cases.
• There will be asynchronous (non-live) activities for students to complete independently outside the in-person block of teaching.
• Live webinars will also be conducted outside the in-person teaching block to facilitate the asynchronous online activities and summative assessment. Webinars will be recorded for students who cannot attend due to work commitments.
• Students will have access to online discussion boards.
• The modules learning outcomes will be assessed by three pieces of summative work: a communications portfolio, a communication strategy brief and a communication strategy pitch. These will assess oral and written skills as well students ability to organise and synthesize information and apply the knowledge acquired to specific problems.
• The communications portfolio will be developed by the students throughout the term and will relate the materials studied in class to real world examples of buiness communication.
• The communication strategy brief will assess 'students' acquired subject knowledge of theoretical principles and empirical studies discussed, and their ablility to apply the acquired knowlege to a specific problem.
• The comminication strategy pitch will assess the ability of students to use the knowledge aquired through the course of developing a persuasive argument for a business expenditure.
• An assessment of the range, recency and appropriateness of sources will be included in the overall assessment of the commication strategy brief and pitch.

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