M51 The Psychology of Sustainable Development
Aims and Learning Outcomes
This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the major theoretical formulations and models in the area of risk in order to provide a conceptual underpinning to inform their approach to research and practice, and to o provide students with a knowledge of individual, organisational and social aspects of approaches to environmental risks.
By the end of this modules students are expected
- to have an understanding of different risk management strategies and to compare and contrast these different strategies.
- to be able to conduct research and consultancy work on environmental risk issues.
- to be knowledgeable about the philosophy and history of environmental attitude and behaviour change research in order to provide a conceptual underpinning to inform their understanding of the major theoretical formulations and models used to investigate attitude and behaviour change research and practice.
- to have an advanced understanding of methods, theory and practice of environment-behaviour research as related to sustainability and quality of life issues.
- to be trained in problem analysis and formulation, intervention, assessment and evaluation as appropriate to environmental risk in order to enable them to conduct empirical research of their own.
- to have developed interpersonal, technical and communication skills required for their effective transition to the world of work by providing opportunities to take personal control of their own development, promoting individual and team working, enhancing decision making skills.
- to be aware of cognate disciplines in order that they are aware of the perspectives and orientations of these disciplines and can engage in a mutually informative dialogue.
- to be able to self-reflect in support of personal and professional development via constructive feedback.
- to be able to link theoretical and empirical questions to social and environmental issues with a view to understanding the practical applications and action implications of environmental psychological theories and empirical findings.
- to be knowledgeable of procedures and practices for the ethical conduct of research.
Course Convenor
Dr Birgitta Gatersleben
Other Contributors
Various internal and external speakers
Contact Hours
20
Required Prerequisite Study
None.
Completion Requirement
Completion of the module (and the acquisition of 15 course credits) requires a total of 20 contact hours in the form of lectures, seminars and workshops. Students are also expected to invest a minimum of 5 hours of study time per one hour of contact time (i.e., 100 hours) in order to undertake the course to satisfactory degree.
Assessments
The assignments will comprise one essay (2,000 words) (50% of the final mark) and one project (working in a group) (50% of the final mark) involving the collection and analysis of risk data through fieldwork. Each group will draft a paper (2,000 words) based on the results and will be graded on the performance of the group as a whole.
Suggested Reading
Bechtel, R.B. & Churchman, A. (2003). Handbook of Environmental Psychology. New York: Wiley.
Lofstedt, R. & Frewer, L. (1998). The Earthscan Reader in Risk and Modern Society. London: Earthscan.
Nickerson, R.S. (2003). Psychology and Environmental Change. London: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Schmuck, P. & Schultz, W.P. (2003). Psychology of Sustainable Development. London: Kluwer.