70270 - Emergency and Risk Psychology

Learning outcomes

Course participants will be able to identify key issues in emergency and risk psychology.

All Erasmus students can attend this course

Course contents

Accident analysis and accident prevention

Applications in road safety

Non technical skills: assessment and training

Situation awareness and decision making

Failures in communication in health care organizations

Human error and human performance in high risk organizations

Teamwork and leadership: implications for safety management

Training evaluation

Readings/Bibliography

Textbook. Flin , R., O' Connor , P., &  Crichton , M (2008). Safety at the Sharp End: A guide to non-technical skills. Hampshire: Ashgate Publishing.

Powerpoint presentations.

Teaching methods

Attendance. Attendance and active participation are highly encourages. Penalty will be applied for every missed class (0,5 points for every missed 2 hours). Penalty will be applied in any circumstances. Three assignment are foreseen (up to 2.5 points each). 

Policy on the Use of Technology in the Classroom. Students may not use any hand held devices in the classroom (cell phones, cameras, etc) without the explicit permission of the professor. All hand held devices should be turned off and packed away during class sessions. The use of computers in the classroom is a privilege, not a right. Computers should be used for note-taking only. If computers are used for texting, e-mail, or Internet connection (without the explicit permission of the professor), the professor may revoke the privilege of using a computer in that class. Students with multiple violations of this policy will not be permitted computer use in any future classes. Students who need to use voice recorders for class lectures must receive the explicit permission of the professor in order to do so.

Ethical code. All students are expected to follow the ethical code  of the University of Bologna. In addition, students are expected to treat each other, themselves and the course instructor and teaching assistant with respect and courtesy, including respecting diversity of all types.

Penalties of late and short / long work.  Any assignments which is submitted after the relevant deadline, without being covered by adequate evidence of medical problems or of another serious emergency or by the prior permission of the tutor concerned, will be penalised as follows: 1 point will be deducted for every day (including Saturday, Sunday, and any holiday) after the relevant deadlines. All assignments have a clear indication of the pages and the names.

Assessment methods

The final exam will cover material from the textbook and lectures. It will last 50 minutes and it will include both multiple-choice and short-answer questions.

Teaching tools

Scientific papers will be sent and shared by dropbox

Office hours

See the website of Luca Pietrantoni