Psychosociolgy

Objectives

By the end of the semester, students should be able to:

1. Identify and explain correctly the methodological principles inherent to a psychosociological approach to interpersonal, group and intergroup phenomena.

2. Argue the pros and cons of each research and intervention approach in the area.

3. Apply, in an analytical manner, fundamental concepts and methods on psychosociology to real life experiences.

Program

1. Psychosociology as a scientific field of knowledge

2. Studies on social interaction: evolution

3. Analysis of social networks: fundamental concepts

4. Social capital

5. Balance and transitivity in social networks

6. Groups, subgroups and reference groups

7. The collection of data on social interactions

8. The analysis of social interactions: key tools and strategies

9. Networks of interaction and interpersonal dynamics: some fields of application

Teaching Methodologies

In this curricular unit several complementary methods are used: online search, presentation and discussion of content by the teacher, in critical dialogue with the class, discussion sessions based on key texts previously prepared by students, data analysis exercises with computer support, oral presentations (individual and / or in group) regarding topics of the curricular unit.

Bibliography

Borgatti, S. P., Mehra, A., Brass, D. J., & Labianca, G. (2009). Network analysis in the social sciences. Science, 323, 892-895.

Christakis, N., & Fowler, J. (2009). Connected: the surprising power of our social networks and how they shape our lives. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Ferreira, J. M., Neves, J., & Caetano, A. (Orgs.) (2001). Manual de psicossociologia das organizações. Lisboa: McGraw-Hill.

Fletcher, G., & Clark, M. (Eds.) (2000). Blackwell handbook of social psychology: Interpersonal processes. Londres: WileyBlackwell.

Lima, J. Á. (2010). Studies of networks in education: Methods for collecting and managing high-quality data. In A. J. Daly (Ed.), Social network theory and educational change (pp. 243-258). Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Press.

Varanda, M. (2000). Análise de redes sociais e sua aplicação ao estudo das organizações: uma introdução. Organizações e Trabalho, 23, 87-106.