CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR
Instructional goals
The course introduces students to consumer behavior and provides them with an understanding of the breadth of the field, and its importance
to marketers, advocacy groups, public policy makers, and consumers themselves.
Intended learning outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding:
This course provides advanced knowledge and analytical resources that will enable students to understand the psychological processes and
various aspects of culture that influence consumer attitudes, decision making, and subsequent behaviors. Special attention will be paid to
content related to artificial intelligence in consumer and marketing areas.
Application of knowledge and understanding:
Students will be able to
• apply knowledge of consumer behavior to marketing strategy;
• examine the impact of marketing on consumers;
• examine how new technologies shape, constrain, and enable consumer behavior
Make judgments:
We expect students to be able to integrate knowledge about consumer behavior and manage the complexity of the different theoretical approaches involved in this field. These skills are highly relevant to decision making within organizations. Students are also expected to be able to discuss and evaluate controversial issues in consumer behavior, including reflections on the social and ethical dimensions of these issues.
Communication skills
This course will give students the ability to acquire and understand tools and concepts in order to communicate their ideas, proposals, analyses and critical reasoning in the field of consumer behavior as effectively and appropriately as possible.
Learning Skills:
This course will help empower students by providing them with the tools to understand why consumers engage in certain behaviors and to
evaluate the explanatory power of different theoretical models with respect to those behaviors independently.
Course Contents
Two main approaches can be identified to the study of consumer behavior: a “micro” orientation, which focuses on the individual psychological
processes that consumers use to make acquisition, consumption, and disposition decisions, and a “macro” orientation, which focuses on group
behaviors and the symbolic nature of consumer behavior. Both orientations are represented in this course. Analytical and applied issues will be
integrated in the course.
Reference Books
Consumer Behaviour: Buying, Having and Being - 13th Global Edition
Teaching Methods
Lectures, discussion and project works on relevant empirical issues.
Students’ participation during lectures is strongly encouraged.
Assessment Method
Research project: 40%
Tests: 20%
In-class activities: 20%
Final exam: 20%
Thesis assignment criteria
No specific criteria
Week 1
Introduction to Consumer Behavior
Week 2
Qualitative Research,
Consumer Wellbeing
Week 3
Exposure, Attention, Perception
Week 4
Learning and Memory, in-class activity
Week 5
Motivation and Affect
Week 6
In-class activity
Week 7
The Self
Week 8
Personality, Lifestyle, and Values
Week 9
Attitudes and Persuasive Communication
Week 10
Decision Making, in-class activity
Week 11
Buying, Using, and Disposing
Week 12
Group Influences and Social Media