Advanced Research Skills
Full course description
As a natural science, Psychology produces knowledge about natural objects and phenomena (e.g., how memory works and some stored information can be retrieved). However, as an artificial science (Simon, 1996), Psychology also creates knowledge about artificial objects and phenomena (e. g., how and why an intervention program aimed to reduce job stress works). Some of these artificial phenomena that are relevant for WOP-Psychology are intervention programs aimed to improve organizational performance and employee well-being.
In order to promote evidence-based practice, it is crucial for our discipline to generate rigorous and solid scientific knowledge about the effectiveness of the aforementioned intervention programs. Thus, researchers and practitioners will be able to make sound decisions about the most appropriate interventions under varying environmental and organizational conditions.
Course objectives
The goal of this course is to equip students with the knowledge and competences that will enable them to conduct rigorous assessments about the effectiveness of organizational interventions. Its content is organized in two main sections:
Quasi-experimental designs for evaluating interventions in organizations. This section addresses the main quasi-experimental designs that can be implemented in organizations to ascertain the consequences of organizational interventions.
Mediation analysis for intervention research. This section is focused on the use of mediation analysis to generate evidence for how and why an intervention achieved its effects.
Students will be able to:
- Plan and implement quasi-experimental designs to evaluate organizational interventions.
- Conduct mediation analysis to ascertain how and why an intervention achieved its effects.