Psychology in Social Innovation

Code:

LPSI323

Acronym:

PIS

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Psychology

Instance: 2025/2026 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Psychology
Course/CS Responsible:	First degree in Psychology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
LPSIC	37	Official Curricular Structure	3	-	3	27	81

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The overall goal of the CU is to provide students the contact with fundamental concepts to acquire a conceptual, strategic and practical perspective on the role of Psychology in the field of the Development of Social Innovation and Social Policies. 

Students will have access to learning opportunities that allow them to integrate concepts acquired in introductory CUs to various domains of psychological knowledge (between the 1st and 3rd years) with the support of Innovative Social Responses and Social Policies.

We seek to enhance the achievement of these goals through (1) critical analysis (in the light of psychological knowledge) of relevant literature in the field of Social Innovation and Public Policies, (2) direct contact with Psychology professionals who assume roles of high relevance in these areas and (3) the elaboration of theoretical-practical work on “conceptual proposals”.

Learning outcomes and competences

1. Through the access and critical discussion of fundamental literature it is intended that the student acquires knowledge and practical skills that allow him/her to develop an integrated perspective of how the knowledge he/she acquires in multiple domains of psychology – from the processes basic psychological aspects to Applied Psychology(ies) – are a source of support and “political influence” in the development of HEIs and Public Social Responses.

2. With the shared research and discussion in a small group of pressing themes for the development of Local Public Policies, the aim is for the student to develop a “representation” of psychological knowledge that goes beyond preconceptions about what Psychology is, what “social function” can be performed through Public Policies and also regarding the practice of the profession (what psychologists are and what they can do).

3. Through the promotion of extended discussion classes with professionals who exemplify (themselves) the importance of the Transfer of Psychological Knowledge in the development of HEIs and Public Policies, the aim is to provide the student with access to the “realization ” from the previous two points.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Social Innovation: Multiple approaches to the concept

• What are Social Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship (SIE)


• The role of psychological knowledge and psychological practice in SIE


• The main public and private mechanisms for the promotion and sustainability of SIE

2. Social Policies: A perspective from social and human sciences

• The strategic framework of Social Policies: between political orientation and scientific and technical support


• The role of Psychological Knowledge Transfer in the development of Social Policies


• The main areas and means of Public Policy in which Psychology is/should be a source of suppor

3. The strategic framework of Social Innovation in Public Policies

• The importance of innovation in Social Responses and Policies


• The role of psychological knowledge in supporting Innovative Social Policies: between Experimentation and Social Impact Measurement


• The role of psychological knowledge and practice in supporting Innovative Social Policies that respond to the SDGs - Sustainable Development Goals advocated by the UN

4. Contact with professionals who exemplify the Transfer of Psychological Knowledge in Social Innovation and Social Policies

• Public policies for the promotion and sustainability of SIE


• Benchmark Innovative Social Responses


• Local Policies on Social Development, Inclusion and Cohesion


• Applied research on evidence-based social responses and policies

Mandatory literature

Chen, Z. ; Frontier Research in Behavioral Public Administration, Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd, 2023
Cooper, M. ; Psychology at the Heart of Social Change, Policy Press, Bristol University Press, 2023
Parkhurst, J. ; The politics of evidence: From evidence-based policy to the good governance of evidence, Routledge, 2017
Steg, L., Keizer, K., Buunk, A., P., & Rothengater ; Applied Social Psychology: Understanding and Managing Social Problems., Cambridge University Press, 2017
Spicker, P. ; Social Policy: Theory and Practice, Policy Press, Bristol University Press, 2014

Complementary Bibliography

Bekerian, D., A., & Levey, A., B. ; Applied Psychology: Putting Theory into Practice., Oxford University Press, 2017
Reinbling, N, & Ariaans, M. (Eds.); Toward a Biopsychosocial Welfare State? How Medicine and Psychology Transform Social Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, 2023
Rogers, P. ; Overview of Impact Evaluation, Methodological Briefs: Impact Evaluation 1, UNICEF Office of Research, 2014

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical-practical classes with the following learning modalities:

1. Access and critical discussion of fundamental literature in the field of the development of SIE and Social Policies: both scientific literature, as well as strategic documents from relevant international, national and local entities.
2. Shared research and small group discussion of pressing themes in the field of Social Responses: particular focus on the development of Local Policies and the extent to which Psychological Knowledge Transfer should be integrated into the process
3. Extended discussion classes with professionals who work in the field of development and implementation of SIE and/or Public Policies

keywords

Social sciences > Psychological sciences
Social sciences > Psychological sciences > Psychology > Applied psychology
Social sciences > Psychological sciences > Psychology > Social psychology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Trabalho escrito	60,00
Trabalho prático ou de projeto	40,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Elaboração de projeto	20,00
Estudo autónomo	14,00
Frequência das aulas	27,00
Trabalho escrito	20,00
Total:	81,00

Eligibility for exams

Aprouval at the UC requires that the student attends at least 2/3 of the classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

The evaluation will be carried out through two procedures:

1. Small group work: focused on the Transfer of Psychological Knowledge in a specific domain of Social Responses or Policies (up to 10 pp.)
2. Individual work: focused on a critical reflection (theoretically supported) on the potential “influence” of psychological knowledge on Social Innovation and/or Social Policies (up to 5 pp.)

The two components of evaluation will have the following weight:

1. Small group work = 40%
2. Individual work = 60%

The approuval at the UC requires a minimum score of 10 in both evaluation components.

Classification improvement

Students can improve their grade during the "Época de Recurso" only in the Individual work, which requires the submission of a new paper.
The grade in the Small Group work cannot be improved.