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PSY-20066 - Module Specification
School of Psychology
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

PSY-20066 - Business Psychology Theory and Practice
Coordinator: Deborah Stevens-Gill
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733736

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

Due to the changing nature of work, work environments and technology, business psychology is one of many growth areas in psychological practice. Many different industries, workplaces, organisations and individuals benefit from business psychology contributions to their working lives. This module will provide you with an introduction to the main topic areas in Business Psychology and Occupational Psychology. Topics will be introduced with due consideration to evidence-based practice, to give you an understanding of the importance of scientific evidence in psychological practice; as such you will synthesise and evaluate literature from psychological and business publications.
This module will appeal to you if you are interested in understanding more about how psychology can be applied to a wide range of work and organisational settings and situations as well as students interested in a career in Business or Occupational psychology.

Aims
This module aims to introduce the core knowledge areas in occupational and business psychology by taking topics from within these areas and building your knowledge of classic and contemporary theories. You will be introduced to the British Psychological Society’s 5 topic areas of Occupational Psychology, and the Association for Business Psychology’s knowledge areas of Business Psychology. This would include revisiting techniques used in the scientist-practitioner model as well as specific topics that will help you to develop an understanding of the theoretical knowledge base and how it can be applied in business psychology.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Compare and contrast psychological approaches to understanding human behaviour in a range of organisational settings or situations. : 1,2
Evaluate psychological theory and literature on individual and group contributions to performance in organisations and organisational effectiveness.: 1,2
Identify, where appropriate, ethical issues within the psychological theory and models that are used in business psychology.: 1,2

Study hours

11x 2 hour interactive lectures
11x 1 hour asynchronous preparation
117 hours independent study and assessment preparation

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Presentation weighted 40%
Presentation
The 15-minute long, in-class Group Presentation will compare and contrast psychological theories, evaluate the empirical evidence in support of them, and assess their relevance and applicability to real-world organisational contexts.

2: Report weighted 60%
Report (1200 words)
A 1200 word report applying a theory covered on the module. This report should consider the content and topics covered so far and apply key theories and research to a real-world business problem. The tutor will provide students with options of real-world business problems they can focus on. Students should demonstrate how the research and theories can help us understand, and resolve the real-world business issue.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025