GRA 6140 Human-Human Interaction
GRA 6140 Human-Human Interaction
In this course, we focus on the dynamics of interactions between humans. The theories that are covered in this course contribute to understanding how people interact, as well as the cognitive patterns and biases that underly these interactions. We will explore key theories from the domains of social psychology, communication, and organizational behavior to understand the drivers of interaction between humans, as well as its limitations. As an examination of this course, students should hand in an empirical research paper.
The course will start with an introduction of theories of interaction at the individual level, focusing on self-identity, stereotypes and biases, and patterns of collaboration and communication with others. In the second part of the course, we will focus on group and network dynamics, and the role of diversity and minority influence.
After completion of this course, students should have knowledge of:
- The core elements of individual and group interaction processes
- Core elements of team interactions and diversity
- Communication dynamics and negotiation techniques
- New forms of digital communication and how they reconstitute traditional forms of organizing.
- How communication dynamics are expressed in quantitative and qualitative, offline and online data.
After this course, students should be able to:
- Develop hypotheses and a research model focused at interpersonal or intergroup interactions
- Understand the use of questionnaire designs in research
- Present a theoretical model
- Test and critically evaluate hypotheses in a larger datase
- Analyse existing relational, interactional and design theories, methods, and interpretations, and work independently on practical and theoretical communication management challenges.
- Solve communication problems in an evidence-based and data-driven manner and formulate corresponding communication propositions.
After the course students should be able to:
- Critically assess theories on interaction between human actors
- Use and reflect on evidence-based (experimental and survey) methodology to determine message strategies
- Apply the theories and empirical research insights covered in this course to solve real-world challenges around the dynamics of interactions among humans
- Discuss the implications of the dynamics of interactions among humans from the perspectives of different key stakeholders
- Develop forward-thinking, creative capabilities, and data-driven reasoning.
- Micro interactions: Understanding individuals and interpersonal interactions:
- Introduction to the course: Key concepts including self/identity/role, interpersonal interaction, teams, and workgroup diversity
- Stereotypes and biases: Stereotypes and prejudices, Stereotype-induced barriers confronting minority members, Role congruity: Double bind, Stereotyped biases in leadership practices
- Cooperation/coordination Interdependence: Cooperation and coordination, Interdependence in organizations, Types of task interdependence
- Persuasion and negotiation: Persuasion strategies, Interpersonal behavior in negotiation
- Morality, and group norms: Moral behavior at different levels, Immorality and moral justification, (Group) norms and behavior
- Macro interactions: Understanding interactions in the context of teams and organizations:
- Diversity management: Two key perspectives, Relational demography, Diversity climate and cognition
- Group dynamics & information/knowledge sharing: Group dynamics, Knowledge sharing, Interdependence and its effect in teams
- Network barriers confronting minority members: Structural network constraints, Homophily, Possible solutions
- Applied: what can organizations do to improve interactions? Diversity practices in organizations: a debate on Affirmative Action Plans
- Pre-class self-study
- Lectures including interactive exercises (e.g., team tasks, group debates)
- Leading discussions about the literature in class
- Presentation of research proposal
- A research paper in which students develop and test a quantitative research model based on variables assessed through a course wide survey. The research model will be developed and presented in the first half of the course.
Please note that while attendance is not compulsory in all courses, it is the student’s own responsibility to obtain any information provided in class.
The examination for this course has been changed from autumn 2023. The course now has one exam element in addition to mandatory coursework that must be approved before you can take the exam. It is not possible to resit the old version of the examination.
All courses in the Masters programme will assume that students have fulfilled the admission requirements for the programme. In addition, courses in second, third and/or fourth semester can have specific prerequisites and will assume that students have followed normal study progression. For double degree and exchange students, please note that equivalent courses are accepted.
Disclaimer
Deviations in teaching and exams may occur if external conditions or unforeseen events call for this.
| Mandatory coursework | Courseworks given | Courseworks required | Comment coursework |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mandatory | 1 | 1 | Presentation of research proposal. Students will receive feedback from the lecturers. Based on the feedback, the students further develop the model, conduct a quantitative study, analyze the data, and submit a research paper in the end of the course. |
| Assessments |
|---|
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Weight: 100 Grouping: Group (3 - 4) Duration: 1 Semester(s) Comment: Written assignment of the research project. Based on the proposal presentation and feedback, students further develop the model, conduct an quantitative study, analyze the data, and submit a research paper in the end of the course. Exam code: GRA 61401 Grading scale: ECTS Resit: Examination when next scheduled course |
| Activity | Duration | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Teaching | 24 Hour(s) | |
Student's own work with learning resources | 62 Hour(s) | |
Group work / Assignments | 62 Hour(s) | |
Feedback activities and counselling | 12 Hour(s) | Including presentation |
A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 6 ECTS credits corresponds to a workload of at least 160 hours.