Prospectus

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Economic and Consumer Psychology

Course
2015-2016

Entry requirements

First-year examination in Psychology

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 behaviour. 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. The work group sessions consist of discussion meetings on assigned readings. The discussions are initiated by students’ presentations of the topics. Students are encouraged to think actively about the assigned readings and topics by developing essay questions for each work group session. Moreover, during the course students are required to write and review a paper in which the theoretical ideas of the course are applied to a relevant question in the field of economic and consumer psychology.

Course objectives

Upon completion of the course, students can:

  • Recognize and reproduce knowledge about the most important theories, paradigms, and empirical findings in the field of social cognition;

  • Apply knowledge on social cognition to understand and analyse economic and consumer behaviour; and

  • Explain, discuss, and report on problems regarding economic and consumer behaviour and has further developed his or her academic skills through reading, presenting, assessing, and discussing recent literature on economic and consumer behaviour.

Timetable

For the timetables of your lectures, workgroups, and exams, select your study programme.
Psychology timetables

Registration

Course

Students need to register for lectures, workgroups and exams.
Instructions for registration in courses for the 2nd and 3rd year

For information on registration periods consult the bachelor course registration

Elective

Elective students have to enroll for each course separately. For admission requirements contact your study advisor.

Exchange/Study abroad

For admission requirements, please contact your exchange coordinator.

Examination

Students are not automatically enrolled for an examination. They can register via uSis from 100 to 10 calendar days before the date; students who are not registered will not be permitted to take the examination.
Registering for exams

Mode of instruction

8 2-hour lectures and 8 2-hour compulsory work group sessions.

Assessment method

Examination consisting of multiple-choice and essay questions (50%) and work group sessions assignments (50%). The information presented in lectures and on Blackboard is part of the examination material.

Regulations on grade calculations

The Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences has instituted that instructors use a software programme for the systematic detection of plagiarism in students’ written work. In case of fraud disciplinary actions will be taken. Please see the information concerning fraud.

Reading list

  • Fiske, S. T., & Taylor, S. E. (2013). Social Cognition (2nd edition).

  • A selection of articles available via Blackboard.

Contact information

Prof. dr. Wilco van Dijk
dijkwvan@fsw.leidenuniv.nl