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PSYC3467: Behaviour Change

Please ensure you check the module availability box for each module outline, as not all modules will run in each academic year. Each module description relates to the year indicated in the module availability box, and this may change from year to year, due to, for example: changing staff expertise, disciplinary developments, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Current modules are subject to change in light of the ongoing disruption caused by Covid-19.

Type Open
Level 3
Credits 10
Availability Available in 2024/2025
Module Cap 45
Location Durham
Department Psychology

Prerequisites

  • PSYC2232 Advanced Research Methods and Statistics

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To understand theories and practice of behaviour change.

Content

  • This module examines theories and practice of behaviour change.
  • Topics can vary from year to year but are likely to include the application of dual process theories to behaviour change; nudging; norms and social influence; marketing and advertising.
  • Designing and evaluating behaviour change interventions.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • Detailed knowledge of theories and practice of behaviour change.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • Ability to review and analyse critically evidence derived from different sources.

Key Skills:

  • Good written communication skills
  • Good IT skills in word processing, data manipulation and data presentation
  • Ability to work independently in scholarship and research within broad guidelines

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Students' acquisition of detailed knowledge will be facilitated by lectures, (break-out) small group work, audio-visual materials, discussions and detailed reading lists
  • These modes of teaching provide students with detailed knowledge of key theories and skills needed to evaluate different theoretical positions in light of current evidence
  • The summative essay will assess students' detailed subject knowledge
  • An assessment of the range, recency and appropriateness of sources will be included in the overall assessment of the essay
  • Guided private study and in-class discussions will ensure that students are exposed to a range of different theoretical positions, and encouraged to understand their inter-relations
  • Lectures and in-class discussion will also give students the opportunity to interpret and evaluate the significance of empirical work
  • The summative essay assesses students' acquired knowledge of theoretical principles and empirical studies and their ability to organise and synthesise them coherently and critically in written form in response to a set question
  • The summative essay will also assess students' written communication skills
  • Feedback on the summative essays will be available within 3 teaching weeks allowing students plenty of time to benefit from feedback on this aspect of their work

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures101 per week2 hours20 
Preparation and reading80 
Total100 

Summative Assessment

Component: EssayComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Essay2500 words100 

Formative Assessment

None

More information

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