Entry requirements
All 60 ec of the first-year in Psychology obtained.
Description
Economic and consumer behaviour is to a large extent social behaviour, which means that understanding social cognition is essential to understanding economic and consumer decision making. This course provides advanced knowledge of social cognition (theories, paradigms, empirical findings) and of how this knowledge can in turn be applied to understand and influence economic and consumer behaviour. The course consists of 2 complementary parts: lectures and work group sessions. The lectures will provide a solid theoretical basis in social cognition and economic and consumer decision making.
The work group sessions consist of discussions, presentations, and assignments, on assigned readings. The discussions are initiated by students’ presentations of the topics. Further, students will work on assignments in which they can apply the readings in a more practical way.
Course objectives
Upon completion of the course, students are able to:
recognise and reproduce knowledge about the most important theories, paradigms, and empirical findings in the field of social cognition;
apply knowledge of social cognition to understand and analyse economic and consumer behaviour;
explain, discuss, and report on problems regarding economic and consumer behaviour; and
has further developed academic skills to recognise and apply persuasion strategies and techniques in communication.
Timetable
For the timetable of this course please refer to MyTimetable
This course is offered twice a year. Students follow the course in one block (Block 1 or 3)
Registration
Education
Students must register themselves for all course components (lectures, tutorials and practicals) they wish to follow. You can register up to 5 days prior to the start of the course.
Exams
You must register for each exam in My Studymap at least 10 days before the exam date. Don’t forget! For more information, see the enrolment procedure.
You cannot take an exam without a valid registration in My Studymap.
Carefully read all information about the procedures and deadlines for registering for courses and exams.
Students who take this course as part of a LDE minor or a premaster programme, exchange students and external guest students will be informed by the education administration about the current registration procedure.
Mode of instruction
Seven two-hour lectures and seven two-hour work group sessions.
Attendance at the work group sessions is mandatory. See Brightspace for more information.
Assessment method
There will be a theoretical exam which counts for 50% of the final grade, and work group sessions assignments, which together count for the other 50%. The book “Thinking, Fast and Slow” (Kahneman, 2011), the assigned readings, the knowledge clips, and the information presented in the lectures are part of the examination material. The examination is in English. Work group sessions and the work group session assignments are in Dutch or English.
The Institute of Psychology uses fixed rules for grade calculation. It also follows the policy of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences to systematically check student papers for plagiarism with the help of software. All students are required to take and pass the Scientific Integrity Test with a score of 100% in order to learn about the practice of integrity in scientific writing. Students are given access to the quiz via a module on Brightspace. Disciplinary measures will be taken when fraud is detected. Students are expected to be familiar with and understand the implications of these two policies.
Reading list
Lecture Readings:
- Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, fast and slow. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN-13: 978-0141033570
Additional Readings:
To be announced on Brightspace.
Contact information
Dr. Marco van Bommel m.van.bommel@fsw.leidenuniv.nl