AP3EC1-Contemporary Issues in Consumer Behaviour

Module Provider: Agr & Food Econ
Number of credits: 10 [5ECTS credits]
Level: 6
Terms in which taught: Spring
Module Convenor: Dr AE Lobb
Pre-requisites: AP2EC1
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Module version for: 2009/0

Email: a.e.lobb@reading.ac.uk

Aims:
This module encourages students to integrate their understanding of different areas of consumer behaviour gained from the degree as a whole to explore and analyse a range of contemporary issues.

Assessable learning outcomes:
To write an essay as coursework and an essay under examination conditions which demonstrate an awareness of the points of convergence and divergence between different aspects of the course and the ability to use and reference evidence from diverse sources to explore a number of current issues.

Additional outcomes:
Students will be prompted to review what they have been taught from different perspectives and to research the literature and other sources to provide material for the essay.

Outline content:
There is little formal teaching on this module and, though nominally attached to Term 8, Contemporary Issues is a course in which students are expected to invest time throughout the year. Its purpose is to encourage students to examine points of convergence and divergence between different parts of the degree. Essay topics will require you to integrate material from several areas, for example, students might be asked if it was possible to study cognition independent of its social context. Students will be required to write an essay (word guide: 2,000/2,500 words) as coursework in term 8. The essay provides experience for the Contemporary Issues examination paper.
1) Introduction to the module – setting out approach required and expectations
2) Short series of lectures on selected consumer behaviour related issues

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		16
Tutorials/seminars
Practicals
Other contact (eg study visits)
Total hours		16
Number of essays or assignments		1
Other (eg major seminar paper)

Assessment:
Coursework
One assessed 2000-2500 word essay in the Spring Term.

Relative percentage of coursework: 50%

Penalties for late submission:
Standard University rule applies: 10% marks deducted for work submitted up to one week late. Work submitted more than one week late will be awarded a zero mark.

Examinations
Two hour ‘seen examination paper’ in the Summer Term. Examination paper will be available to students two weeks before the first examination is sat.

Relative percentage of examination: 50%

Requirements for a pass
A mark of 40% overall

Reassessment arrangements
By examination.

Last updated: 23 November 2009