PSY-2020 | UiT

Application deadline

Applicants from Nordic countries: 1 June for the autumn semester and 1 December for the spring semester. Applicants from outside the Nordic countries: 1 October for the spring semester and 15 April for the autumn semester.

Type of course

The course can be taken as a singular course.

Admission requirements

Local admission, application code 9199 - - singular course

Course content

Our attitudes toward objects, people, and ideas shape many aspects of everyday life, including our choice of consumer goods, friends, and political values. What are attitudes, how do they develop, how are they related to behavior, how can they be measured, and how can they be changed?

Part I presents traditional and contemporary approaches to the study of attitudes. This part deals with the definition of attitudes, their structure and function, their origin, and their consequences. The measurement of attitudes will be discussed; further, the most influential models of persuasion (that is, how to change peoples' attitudes) will be presented.

Part II deals with selected topics that have recently gained attention in the literature. First, new theoretical models of persuasive communication have been proposed that provide a fresh view on how attitudes are formed, and how they can be changed. These models will be presented and compared to the established approaches. Second, research has demonstrated the usefulness of complementing direct measures of attitudes (typically based on questionnaire responses) by indirect attitude measures (typically based on response latencies). These two kinds of measures may often lead to different conclusions, for instance in research on sensitive topics such as intergroup attitudes. Theoretical background and measurement instruments, but also ambiguities concerning the appropriate interpretation of indirectly assessed attitudes will be presented and discussed.

Recommended prerequisites

PSY-1001 Introduction to psychology, PSY-1002 Psychological methodology, PSY-1005 Social psychology

Objectives of the course

The course introduces core concepts, research methods, and theories in the domain of attitude formation and change. Students acquire a thorough understanding of both classic approaches and recent developments. The course aims to provide students with the methods and theoretical tools required to design studies and interventions that deal with the measurement or change of attitudes. Students will use this knowledge to design an empirical study.

Language of instruction and examination

English

Teaching methods

12 Lectures, 2 hours each. The complete course will be taught in English.

Assessment

The examination is a 4-hours written exam. Grades are given on a scale from A - F. The exam will be given in both Norwegian and English, and students may answer the exams in either Norwegian or English.

If the students get the grade F, a re-sit exam will be given the following semester.

autumn 2018 PSY-2020 The psychology of attitudes - 10 ECTS