PYB302 Applied Social and Organisational Psychology

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

Psychology plays a critical role in enhancing people's lives, and in the functioning of groups, communities and organisations. In this unit students are exposed to a range of social and workplace issues which can be understood and addressed using concepts and theories aligned with social and organisational psychology.  PYB302 focuses strongly on the application of theoretical perspectives to formulate innovative, feasible solutions to real-world issues. Social/organisational concepts and challenges are explored from varying viewpoints (including cultural perspectives) and students gain awareness of how their knowledge of social and organisational psychology can contribute to facilitating and supporting change. Students develop important graduate attributes, including innovative thinking, teamwork skills, digital practices (using technology to collaborate and present information) and writing for broad audiences. The unit expands students' awareness of potential career options. 

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Through individual and group based learning, synthesise and apply principles, concepts, theories and frameworks aligned with social and organisational psychology to formulate feasible, evidence based solutions to real world social and workplace issues.
2. Critically appraise the value of evidence based approaches to address real world social and organisational issues.
3. Accurately identify and differentiate key principles, concepts, theories and frameworks (and their components) relevant to applied social and organisational psychology and their appropriate application and contributions within these settings.
4. Utilise the knowledge, skills and abilities gained in the unit to contribute to your development of graduate attributes (including interpersonal and teamwork skills).

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit will use different modes of teaching and learning according to the learning goals for each week. These modes may include traditional lectures, online content delivery, workshops, online quizzes, tutorials, and consultation sessions. You will be expected to actively participate in classes, team meetings and touchpoints with industry representatives to complete tasks. A schedule will be provided at the beginning of semester to help you plan your attendance and participation.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Tutorials and industry consultation sessions (termed touchpoints) will provide you with academic and industry feedback to help progress the work integrated learning project. During touchpoints, you will have the opportunity to ask the partner about the feasibility of your ideas within their work setting. You will also receive academic feedback on your written submissions. 

Assessment

Overview

The unit includes two pieces of assessment.  The major assignment is a work integrated learning consultancy project pertaining to a real world social/organisational issue provided by a partner organisation. This assessment requires you to work individually and as part of a student team to produce a written report detailing evidence-based strategies/solutions to address the nominated issue. You will use a range of digital practices to complete the assessment, including using technology to collaborate and present information to a broad audience. Within the report, you will consider the value of scholarly research to address real world issues.

The final piece of assessment is an end of semester invigilated exam which is designed to assess your knowledge and application of the unit's content. 

Online submission of written assessment items and online provision of feedback will be used.

As this is an internally offered unit, you are expected to attend the final examination in-person, on QUT Brisbane campuses.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Work Integrated Learning Consultancy Project

This is a team-based work integrated learning project where, working in collaboration with a partner organisation, you will draw from scholarly research to address a contemporary social or workplace issue.  Strategies, such as the creation of a team project plan and team contract, will support successful team outcomes.Teams will present their work via a comprehensive report. All team members who can clearly evidence their contribution will receive the same mark for their team's project report and this mark will represent 40% of the total grade for the unit. Individual team members will also receive a personal peer evaluation score reflecting their teamwork engagement and skills. The peer evaluation score is based on reviews provided by other members of the team and represents 10% of the grade for the unit. 

Assessment: Examination

The multiple-choice final exam will be completed during the central examination period and will assess the content covered in the unit.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Course Learning Outcomes

PY45 Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology)

1. Describe and evaluate the core scientific perspectives of psychology with reference to theories, methods and research, from diverse perspectives, including first-nations perspectives.
   Relates to: Examination
2. Critically examine the scientific discipline of psychological research and theories using oral, written and digital communication to address psychological issues in a respectful, ethical and professional manner.
   Relates to: Work Integrated Learning Consultancy Project, Examination
3. Develop interpersonal process skills that contribute to effective outcomes in collaboration with others, including developing innovative opportunities.
   Relates to: Work Integrated Learning Consultancy Project
4. Implement a range of digital capabilities to access, examine and utilise evidence-based information in the context of effectively responding to, and communicating, real world problems.
   Relates to: Work Integrated Learning Consultancy Project