Leadership Development

Psychology 358 Section 1

Course Outline

Professor: McKay Stevens 1062 SWKT TA: Tabitha Schaap

Class Time: 5-7:30 pm Tues. tschaap44@yahoo
Email: mckay182@yahoo.com
Text: Leadership: Research Findings, Practice, and Skills, 5th edition
By Andrew J. DuBrin

Course Objectives
-To introduce the various perspectives on leadership
-To build leadership skills
-To introduce various aspects of research dealing with leadership
-For self exploration of leadership through writing
-To write a literature review/research proposal on some aspect of leadership
-To build team leadership through teamwork on assignments

Class Schedule

Date Topic Assignment

1/6 Nature & Importance of Leadership

1/13 Traits, Motives, and Characteristics
1/20 Charismatic & Transformational Leadership Team 1
1/27 Leadership Behaviors, Attitudes & Styles
2/3 Contingency & Situational Leadership Team 2
2/10 Ethics & Social Responsibility Writing Assignment #1 Due
2/24 Power, Politics & Leadership Team 3
Exam #1 in testing Center
2/26-2/28
3/3 Influence Tactics of Leadership Writing Assignment #2 Due
3/10 Developing Teamwork Team 4
3/17 Motivation & Coaching Skills
3/24 Creativity, Innovation, & Leadership Team 5
3/31 Communication & Conflict Resolution
4/7 Strategic Leadership & Knowledge Management Research Paper Due/ Team 6
4/14 Leadership Development & Succession Exam #2 in class 4/14

*syllabus is subject to change. Professor will announce when changes are made.
Writing Assignments (20 pts each)
Short Essays to be 2-4 pages in length, typed, double-spaced, 12 pt font.
#1 Describe crucibles in your own life that have lead to your evolution as
a leader and how they have impacted and influenced your development
and ideas.

#2 Psychological contracts- find a peer reviewed research article on the concept of

psychological contracts. Write up a critique of the article (include a summary of
the article as well as strengths and weaknesses to it, include ideas you would have
for researching psychological contracts. Turn your paper in with your article
stapled to it.)

Team Presentations (50 pts)

Each team will present a chapter to the class. Team members will be given a specific
chapter to present to the class on the designated day. Presentations should cover key
concepts from the chapter in an interesting way that will help students to learn. Each team
could use visual aids, digital learning, role playing, case studies, challenge groups or any
other ideas to aid in teaching. Presentations should be between one and two hours. Extra
journal articles on key topics are encouraged and can be posted on blackboard for the
entire class to read before your presentations. This activity is designed to benefit the
entire class in a number of ways. Teams can teach in a way they would want to be taught.
(something the teacher might lack haha) Be creative and have fun with it but make sure
the entire class will be prepared to be tested on the material you cover. Teams will hand
in 5 multiple choice test questions when they do their presentation. Further explanations
will be given in class. Email powerpoint presentations to the professor so he can post
them on blackboard for a study aid for all students.

Peer Evaluations (5 pts)

On the day after your presentation email me a score out of 15 for each individual in your
group based on how much they participated in the group.

Research Paper/Proposal (100 pts)

This paper can be a literature review of some area of leadership that you have interest in
or it can be an actual research project (groups) for some research you would like to
conduct in an area of leadership development. This paper is to be no less than 7 pages and
written in proper APA style. You should have a minimum of 8 scholarly journal articles
as references in addition to whatever other sources you might use.

Paper Grading
We will go over paper grading a bunch in class and the first two writing assignments are
designed to help you to understand how to write a great final paper. Use the feedback you
get on these papers to improve your final research paper. The paper must be in APA
format in every detail. Check the APA reference manual for any questions you may have.
The paper needs to be well organized and logically ordered into main points with a
thesis/preview. Flow of the paper should follow the outline of the thesis with organized
paragraphs with good topic sentences and great transitional statements to connect points.
Feel free to also use subheadings as with APA style to help the flow of the paper. Include
a conclusion as well.

Exams (50 pts each)

There will be a midterm and a final exam in this class that will both consist of 30 multiple
choice questions and 2 short essay questions. These exams will cover material from both
lecture and assigned readings.

Participation (30 pts)

Attendance and participation in this course are key. Readings from the text are expected
to be done before class so all students can bring knowledge to class discussions. This
topic is very broad and each individual has his or her own perspective on leadership. We
can all come together to edify each other if we are prepared. Please be respectful and kind
while other teams are presenting. Help out with comments and activities as you will want
help when it is your turn.

Academic Honesty
While all students sign the honor code, there are still specific skills most students need to
master over time in order to correctly cite sources, especially in this new age of the
internet; as well as deal with the stress and strain of college life without resorting to
cheating. See http://www.byu.edu/honorcode for specific examples of intentional or
inadvertent plagiarism, as well as fabrication and falsification.

Gender Issues
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination against any
participant in an educational program or activity that receives federal funds. The act is
intended to eliminate sex discrimination in education. Title IX covers discrimination in
programs, admissions, activities, and student-to-student sexual harassment. BYU’s
policy against sexual harassment extends not only to employees of the university but to
students as well. If you encounter unlawful sexual harassment or gender based
discrimination, please talk to your professor and contact the Equal Employment Office at
422-5895/422-5689 (24-hours); or the Honor Code Office at 422-2847.

Students with Disabilities

Brigham Young University is committed to providing a working and learning atmosphere
which reasonably accommodates qualified persons with disabilities. If you have any
disability which may impair your ability to complete this course successfully, please
contact the University Accessibility Center (UAC; 422-2767). Reasonable academic
accommodations are reviewed for all students who have qualified documented
disabilities. Services are coordinated with the student and instructor by the UAC. If you
need assistance or if you feel you have been unlawfully discriminated against on the basis
of disability, you may seek resolution through established grievance policy and
procedures. You should contact the Equal Employment Office at 422-5895, D-282 ASB.