CQUniversity Unit Profile
MRKT20055 Science of Consumer Behaviour
Science of Consumer Behaviour
All details in this unit profile for MRKT20055 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

While we are all consumers in day to day life, few of us fully understand the internal and external mechanisms driving us to behave in certain ways and make specific buying and consumption decisions. For example, what leads to our choices of cars, phones, or holidays? What causes addictive or compulsive consumption such as problem gambling or social media addiction? Are our decisions impacted by internal drives within ourselves or by forces in our external environment such as family and culture? In reality it is often a combination of these influences, thus it is important to understand not only where those influences are coming from, but also how they interact with each other to result in a consumer decision. To facilitate thorough understanding, students are exposed to models and frameworks of consumer decision-making and the effects that various internal and external influences may have on consumer choices and actions. If you have successfully completed the unit MRKT20021 you should not enrol in this unit.

Details

Career Level: Postgraduate
Unit Level: Level 9
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 10
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Co-requisite: MRKT20052 Advanced Marketing Management

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2017

Brisbane
Distance
Melbourne
Sydney

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 20%
2. Presentation
Weighting: 30%
3. Written Assessment
Weighting: 50%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Student feedback.

Feedback

Positive comments on the utilisation of practical materials and videos in supporting students' learning process.

Recommendation

Keep providing students with practical, relevant, and engaging learning materials and videos in order to enrich their learning experience.

Action

This recommendation has been fully implemented.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Use consumer behaviour principles to solve marketing problems;
  2. analyse decision-process influences associated with consumer behaviour;
  3. explain and analyse internal and external influences on consumer behaviour;
  4. apply ethical standards to consumer behaviour research and practice; and
  5. evaluate current trends in consumer behaviour theory, research and application.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20%
2 - Presentation - 30%
3 - Written Assessment - 50%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Knowledge
2 - Communication
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills
4 - Research
5 - Self-management
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility
7 - Leadership
8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20%
2 - Presentation - 30%
3 - Written Assessment - 50%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Consumer Behaviour: Buying, Having, Being

Edition: 3rd edn (2013)
Authors: Solomon, M, Russell-Bennett, R & Previte, J
Pearson Australia
Frenchs Forest Frenchs Forest , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 9781442553583
Binding: Paperback

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
En Li Unit Coordinator
e.li@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 06 Mar 2017

Module/Topic

Buying, having and being

Chapter

1

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 13 Mar 2017

Module/Topic

Individual decision making, buying and disposing

Chapter

8 & 9

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 20 Mar 2017

Module/Topic

Perception

Chapter

2

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 27 Mar 2017

Module/Topic

Learning and memory

Chapter

3

Events and Submissions/Topic

Online Quiz Opens Monday (27 Mar 17) 09:00 AM AEST

Week 5 Begin Date: 03 Apr 2017

Module/Topic

Personality

Chapter

4

Events and Submissions/Topic

Online Quiz Due: Week 5 Friday (7 Apr 2017) 5:00 pm AEST
Vacation Week Begin Date: 10 Apr 2017

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 17 Apr 2017

Module/Topic

Motivation and values

Chapter

5

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 24 Apr 2017

Module/Topic

The self

Chapter

6

Events and Submissions/Topic

Presentation Due: Week 7 Friday (28 Apr 2017) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 8 Begin Date: 01 May 2017

Module/Topic

Attitudes and attitude change

Chapter

7

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 08 May 2017

Module/Topic

Groups and social connections

Chapter

10

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 15 May 2017

Module/Topic

Culture and lifestyle

Chapter

11 & 14

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 22 May 2017

Module/Topic

Income and social class

Chapter

12

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 29 May 2017

Module/Topic

Age

Chapter

13

Events and Submissions/Topic

Individual Report Due: Week 12 Friday (2 June 2017) 5:00 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 05 Jun 2017

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 12 Jun 2017

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Online Quiz

Task Description

Assessment Task 1—Online Quiz

Due date: Online quiz starts at 9am AEST Monday Week 4 and closes at 5pm AEST Friday Week 5 in Moodle

Weighting: 20%

Time: 30 minutes

Details

The online consumer behaviour quiz ensures that students engage the conceptual material in the following chapters of the textbook: 1, 2, 3, 8, 9. The quiz includes 20 questions and has a time limit of 30 minutes.

Please see below for some important advice for the quiz.

  • You can practice a sample quiz in the unit Moodle site.
  • The quiz can only be taken once so do not open the quiz until you are ready to complete the entire quiz.
  • Responsibility for access, ISP, browsers, connection and the computer you use (irrespective of who owns it) remains with the student. Failure of equipment is not grounds for special consideration, extension of quiz or special arrangements. Use of computers/computer labs on university campuses does not absolve students of their responsibility for having reliable and continued access to the worldwide web.
  • Refer system access problems (e.g. Moodle login or password issues) to the Technology and Services Assistance Centre at tasac@cqu.edu.au as early as possible.
  • “My computer has frozen up during the online quiz – what do I do?” The first thing to do is “don’t panic”! Contact the Unit Coordinator immediately for assistance identifying the nature of the problem, your full name, student number and campus. Any omissions of this required information may delay a response.
  • If a student requests a reset of the quiz and the Unit Coordinator agrees to that request, but subsequently the student does not complete the quiz within the deadline, it will be deemed that the quiz has not been completed and a score of zero will apply. Note that the determination of whether the online quiz result was affected by technical difficulties will be solely the prerogative of the Unit Coordinator. Simply doing poorly in the quiz and then asking for a reset will not be considered.


Number of Quizzes

1


Frequency of Quizzes

Other


Assessment Due Date

Week 5 Friday (7 Apr 2017) 5:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

On completion of online quiz.


Weighting
20%

Assessment Criteria

  • You will be given 30 minutes ONLY for the quiz.
  • The total score for the quiz is 20 marks (20 questions × 1 mark per question = 20 marks).


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Use consumer behaviour principles to solve marketing problems;
  • analyse decision-process influences associated with consumer behaviour;
  • explain and analyse internal and external influences on consumer behaviour;
  • apply ethical standards to consumer behaviour research and practice; and


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility

2 Presentation

Assessment Title
Presentation

Task Description

Assessment Task 2—Presentation

Due date: Friday of Week 7 by 5pm AEST

Weighting: 30%

Length: 3 minutes maximum

Details

Academic research on consumer behaviour has been an important driving force behind business decisions in the real world. In this assessment task, you as a “consumer behaviour expert” will bring the latest consumer behaviour research into practice.

First, please find a research article published in any 2016 issue of “Journal of Consumer Research”, the best consumer behaviour journal in the world.

Your task is to present findings of this research article and apply these findings to a real-world organisation. That is, you will provide recommendations on how the organisation could benefit from applying the research findings.

This presentation should be made within 3 minutes and through 4 PowerPoint slides. The slides should follow the subsequent structure:

  • Student information and presentation title;
  • Findings of the research article;
  • Recommendations for the organisation;
  • Reference list.

You will also prepare a script (i.e., a Word document) in which you will write out or at least outline what you intend to say in your presentation.

Please pay attention to the following details on presentation and submission methods:

  • On-campus students will deliver their presentation in class, and submit their PowerPoint file and script on Moodle.
  • Distance education students will record their presentation through PowerPoint's “Record Slide Show” function, and submit their PowerPoint file (with recording) and script on Moodle.
  • For all students, the Moodle submission of PowerPoint file and script will be due at 5pm AEST Friday Week 7. However, on-campus students may present in class prior to, during, or after Week 7, depending on their local lecturer/tutor's scheduling.


Assessment Due Date

Week 7 Friday (28 Apr 2017) 5:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 10 Wednesday (17 May 2017)


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

  • PowerPoint design - 2 marks
  • Presentation clarity - 2 marks
  • Findings of the research article - 12 marks
  • Recommendations for the organisation - 12 marks
  • Referencing - 2 marks
  • Total - 30 marks


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Use consumer behaviour principles to solve marketing problems;
  • analyse decision-process influences associated with consumer behaviour;
  • explain and analyse internal and external influences on consumer behaviour;
  • apply ethical standards to consumer behaviour research and practice; and
  • evaluate current trends in consumer behaviour theory, research and application.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility

3 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Individual Report

Task Description

Assessment Task 3—Individual Report

Due date: Friday of Week 12 by 5pm AEST

Weighting: 50%

Length: 1500 words maximum

Details

Renting a house can be a major consumption decision, subject to many competing influences. This assignment requires you to look at the rental property choices of 3 people, and provide your analysis on those factors leading to their decisions.

Firstly, please download the 5 survey questionnaires completed by 5 different respondents (these questionnaires will be posted on Moodle from Week 5). After reading through these questionnaires, please pick 3 questionnaires/respondents (you can pick any 3 you like) as the target for your analysis. You will notice that these questionnaires are mainly about making decisions among 6 different rental property options.

Secondly, please use the theoretical areas below to analyse the behaviour of your chosen respondents. Please explain the differences between their rankings of evaluative criteria and their choices of rental properties, using theories from:

  • Personality
  • Demographics (age, gender, family situation, income, ethnicity etc)

Lastly, please provide recommendations to the marketer of ANY ONE of the rental property options featured in the survey questionnaires – what are the characteristics of her/his likeliest customers and how might she/he best attract them by applying the theories of learning and memory?

Your argument and analysis in this report requires theoretical support from a minimum of 10 journal article references.


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Friday (2 June 2017) 5:00 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

As this unit has no exam, the formal results for this last piece of assessment can only be released to students on the Certification of Grades date (07-Jul-2017).


Weighting
50%

Assessment Criteria

  • Report structure, writing style, and referencing - 10 marks
  • Analyse the behaviour of chosen respondents using the theories of personality - 10 marks
  • Analyse the behaviour of chosen respondents using the theories of demographics - 10 marks
  • Recommendations - 10 marks
  • Theoretical support (from at least 10 journal articles) - 10 marks
  • Total - 50 marks


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Use consumer behaviour principles to solve marketing problems;
  • analyse decision-process influences associated with consumer behaviour;
  • explain and analyse internal and external influences on consumer behaviour;
  • apply ethical standards to consumer behaviour research and practice; and
  • evaluate current trends in consumer behaviour theory, research and application.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?