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.
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
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
- Test and critically evaluate hypotheses in a larger datase
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 stakeholder
- 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
- Quizzes about the course material
- Lectures including interactive exercises (e.g., team tasks, group debates)
- 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.
This is a course with continuous assessment (several exam components) and one final exam code. Each exam component is graded by using points on a scale from 0-100. The components will be weighted together according to the information in the course description in order to calculate the final letter grade for the examination code (course). Students who fail to participate in one/some/all exam elements will get a lower grade or may fail the course. You will find detailed information about the point system and the cut off points with reference to the letter grades when the course starts.
At re-sit all exam components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course.
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.
| Assessments |
|---|
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Weight: 30 Grouping: Group (3 - 4) Duration: 1 Semester(s) Comment: Research proposal – handed in as a written assignment. 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. Exam code: GRA 61401 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course |
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Weight: 70 Grouping: Group (3 - 4) Duration: 1 Semester(s) Comment: Written assignment of the research project. The proposal and the written assignment are integral to each other. Students deliver their proposal in week 7 and receive feedback from lecturers. Based on the feedback, the 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: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during 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) | |
Group work / Assignments | 8 Hour(s) | Quizzes and presentation in class |
Feedback activities and counselling | 4 Hour(s) |
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.