ECH-22306 Life Styles and Consumption Patterns II

Course

Credits 6.00

Language of instruction:

English

Expected knowledge on:

MCB-10304; MCB-10404

Contents:

This 4 credits course- the follow-up of the course Life styles and consumption patterns I (SCH 20804)- is obligatory for students of Management and Consumer Sciences who are doing specialization Consumer. It is recommended for students of the same program but with another specialization, and can be a suitable optional for other students, including those doing an international MSc. The course is given during period 4. Both the first and second course can be attended separately.
The course will use a mix of methods, including lectures, literature study, assignments, short research paper and presentation. Attention will be paid to the following five subjects: decision making and negotiation within households, preferences and consumers perspective, sustainable consumption, leisure and care.

Aims:

The courses Life styles and consumption patterns I and II have two broad aims. First to familiarize students with economic and sociological approaches to topics in the field of lifestyles and consumption patterns. Secondly, to get students acquainted with the various stages or aspects in the empirical cycle of doing empirical social research. This means that after successfully having attended the course Lifestyles and consumption patterns II, the following will be reached:
1. the student is able to apply the approach mentioned in the paragraph above to the following five subjects: decision making and negotiation within households, preferences and consumer's perspective, sustainable consumption, leisure and care.;
2. the student is able to translate theoretical concepts, notions and questions into a research problem and research design (experiment, survey, etc.) for empirical research. In doing so, the student is able to formulate testable hypotheses and to operationalize concepts;
3. the student is able to write a short research report and to give an oral presentation of the research.
Aim 1 will be achieved by a careful study of the obligatory literature and by the preparation for the written exam. Aim 2 will be reached by completing the four assignments in the syllabus. Aim 3 will be realized by means of a secondary analysis of one of the subjects of the course.

Activities:

1. lectures. For six weeks there will be two double lectures, presenting consecutively economic and sociological approaches;
2. literature study;
3. assignments;
4. short research paper;
5. presentation.

Examination:

The student's performance will be measured in three ways:
1 mark for the written examination on the contents of the lectures and the obligatory literature at the end of the course;
2 an average mark for the assignments;
3 a mark for the short research paper and presentation.
The final mark is the weighted average of the three marks with some additional prerequisites.

Literature:

A study guide, syllabus and list of compulsory literature will be available through the ECH secretariate