Unit Overview
- Description
As technology becomes increasingly embedded in workplace systems, it is essential to understand both the benefits and costs to humans working alongside technology. This unit focuses on understanding the relationship between human workplace performance and a range of physical and digital technologies. In addition to covering specific topics of contemporary relevance, there is an overarching emphasis on the broader psychological principles guiding good work system design. Students focus on achieving a balance between using technology to design efficient, productive organisations, and promoting human health, safety, and wellbeing.
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
Availability Location Mode First year of offer Not available in 2026 UWA (Perth) On-campus - Outcomes
Students are able to (1) demonstrate understanding and knowledge regarding the application of technology to workplace/organisational settings; (2) demonstrate ethical and competent use of digital technologies in organisational psychology practice; (3) critically evaluate contemporary scientific literature to inform the application of technology to workplace/organisational settings; (4) design, justify, and critically evaluate a workplace technological intervention; and (5) demonstrate an understanding of how individual and group differences affect the use of technology.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) in class test; (2) individual viva; (3) final report; and (4) attendance. Further information is available in the unit outline.
To pass this unit, a student must: (a) achieve an overall mark of 50 per cent or higher for the unit; and (b) achieve the requisite requirements(s) or a mark of 50 per cent or greater, whichever is higher and specified in the unit outline, for the attendance component.
Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Unit Coordinator(s)
- Dr Vanessa Bowden
- Unit rules
- Prerequisites
- Enrolment in53580 Master of Industrial and Organisational Psychology
and 01880/54580 Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Industrial and Organisational Psychology
- Contact hours
- 2 hour weekly workshops
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.