Business Psychology 2600-DSMdz1PB

After finishing the course, the student:
In terms of knowledge:
• recognizes cognitive biases (e.g., primacy effect, recency effect, anchoring) (K_W01).
• explains methods of acquiring scientific knowledge in social sciences, including differences between correlational and experimental studies, methods of data collection and analysis, and the creation of research reports (K_W01).
• identifies automatic and controlled processes as well as the activation of cognitive schemas in the context of business management (K_W05).
• recognizes the role of emotions in managerial and consumer decision-making (K_W05).
• formulates conclusions regarding the impact of human cognitive functioning on decision-making in the context of business management and market function (K_W05).

In terms of skills:
• identifies phenomena related to emotional arousal (e.g., effects of missattribution of arousal) and their impact on relationships within the organization (K_U02).
• classifies the role of emotions in consumer decision-making and organizational management, considering the dynamics of emotional reactions (e.g., exposure effect, habituation) (K_U02).
• analyzes human cognitive functioning, including limitations of cognitive resources and their impact on decision-making in management (K_U05).
• analyzes their own behaviors and decisions utilizing psychological knowledge discussed in class (K_U08).

In terms of social competencies:
• evaluates managerial actions and decisions using psychological knowledge to analyze human behaviors and group dynamics (K_K01).
• critically verifies published scientific research (considering -among other factors - internal and external validity) in the context of human resource management in organizations (K_K02).
• adheres to ethical principles in professional relationships, taking into account the psychological determinants of decision-making and responsibility for the impact of one’s actions on other members of the organization (K_K05).

The course ends with a credit (thus, there is no resit session). The final grade is influenced by work throughout the entire semester.

The measurement of students’ knowledge consists of two phases:
LEARNING PHASE – which includes online tests without limits on time or number of attempts (the best result counts; work without time pressure) and other assignments carried out during the semester with specified deadlines (group and individual, including e.g. presentations, essays, open-ended questions, class activity) – 40% of the grade.
CERTIFICATION PHASE – 3 quizzes, with questions drawn from the database of online tests from the LEARNING PHASE – 60% of the grade. Quizzes are time-limited (work under time pressure). The average score from the 3 quizzes must be at least 50% in order to pass them.
If the course is not passed on time, an oral examination will follow.

Violation of academic integrity (e.g., cheating) results in a failing grade for the course without the possibility of resits. The course will then have to be repeated the following year.
The final grade will be a weighted average of the final test result (weight = 0.6) and semester activity in the LEARNING PHASE (weight = 0.4).
To pass, a total of 60% of points must be earned by the end of the semester, including at least 50% of points from the quizzes. Obtaining an average quiz score below 50% makes passing impossible, regardless of the total points from the entire semester.
Only students who worked systematically during the semester (achieved at least 50% of points from the LEARNING PHASE) will be allowed to retake the quizzes.
After the designated deadline, access to assignments on the Kampus online platform will not be restored.
Bonus points:
Participation in research or completion of an additional task comparable in terms of effort and time commitment – 10% bonus to the semester component (LEARNING PHASE).
Academic Integrity
Students are required to comply with the principles of academic integrity. Cheating and plagiarism (including copying from other students or other sources) are serious violations subject to appropriate consequences depending on the scale and nature of the violation. Consequences may include, among others: lowering the grade for the given assignment or the entire course, invalidation of the work and the necessity to redo it, or a failing grade for the entire course without the possibility of resits.
Unless assignment instructions state otherwise, students may not present as their own content, analyses, or solutions generated by AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini). If AI use is permitted for a given assignment, it must be clearly indicated how it was used. In such cases, students are responsible for verifying accuracy and critically analyzing generated content, as well as ensuring that the final work reflects their own position and understanding of the topic. Regardless of possible AI use, full responsibility for the content, correctness, and originality of submitted work rests with the students.
Grading thresholds:
60% - 68% - 3
69% - 75% - 3.5
76% - 83% - 4
84% - 91% - 4.5
92% - 98% - 5
99% and above – 5!

Core readings:
• Teaching materials provided on the platform
• Wieczorkowska–Wierzbińska, G. Rafy zarządzania. (2025). University of Warsaw Press.
• Cialdini, R. (2017). Pre-suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade. GWP.
Supplementary readings:
• Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2024). Psychology 2e.https://commons.erau.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=oer-textbook
• Wieczorkowska–Wierzbińska, G. Psychological Limitations. (2011).
• Arnold, J., Randall, R., Patterson, F., Silvester, J., Robertson, I., Cooper, C. L., Burnes, B., Harris, D., & Axtell, C. (2016). Work Psychology: Understanding Human Behaviour in the Workplace (6th ed.). Harlow: Pearson.
• Additional materials provided on the e-learning platform

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

• Description of 2600-DSMdz1PB in USOSweb