MKTG203
Consumer Behaviour
S1 Day 2017
Dept of Marketing and Management
Contents
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publication is accurate and up-to-date. However,
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as a result of change in University policies,
procedures or rules. The University reserves the
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this publication.
General Information 2
Learning Outcomes 5
General Assessment Information 5
Assessment Tasks 5
Delivery and Resources 10
Policies and Procedures 11
Graduate Capabilities 12
Changes from Previous Offering 15
Global contexts & Sustainability 15
Research & Practice 15
Disclaimer
http://unitguides.mq.edu.au/unit_offerings/72980/unit_guide/print 1General Information
Unit guide MKTG203 Consumer Behaviour
http://unitguides.mq.edu.au/unit_offerings/72980/unit_guide/print 2Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Coordinator
Cynthia Webster
[email protected]
Contact via email
E4A 640
Wednesdays 12:00-2:00
John Truong
[email protected]
Contact via email
Department of Marketing and Management - E4A
N/A
Tutor
Chedia Dhaoui
[email protected]
Contact via email
by appointment
Tutor
Lauren Gellatly
[email protected]
Contact via email
by appointment
Tutor
Jennifer Hsieh
[email protected]
Contact via email
by appointment
Tutor
Pardis Mohajerani
[email protected]
Contact via email
by appointment
Tutor
Ekaterina Napolova
[email protected]
Contact via email
by appointment
Unit guide MKTG203 Consumer Behaviour
http://unitguides.mq.edu.au/unit_offerings/72980/unit_guide/print 3Lecturer
Monica Ren
[email protected]
Contact via email
by appointment
Tutor
Lisa Rohanek
[email protected]
Contact via email
by appointment
Tutor
Shveta Sharma
[email protected]
Contact via email
by appointment
Tutor
Helen Siuki
[email protected]
Contact via email
by appointment
Credit points
3
Prerequisites
MKTG101
Corequisites
Co-badged status
Unit guide MKTG203 Consumer Behaviour
http://unitguides.mq.edu.au/unit_offerings/72980/unit_guide/print 4Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are
available at http://students.mq.edu.au/student_admin/enrolmentguide/academicdates/
Learning Outcomes
1. Identify, understand, and articulate a range of external and internal influences on
consumer behaviour.
2. Critically discuss, analyse and integrate consumer behaviour literature to create coherent
and theoretically rigorous arguments relating to ethical and sustainable consumption.
3. Apply consumer behaviour knowledge to develop creative solutions to unsustainable
consumption decisions and practices acknowledging the ethical implications to society.
4. Demonstrate understanding and application of roles and relationships within a group.
General Assessment Information
Assessment Tasks
Name Weighting Due
Participation 10% Weeks 2-6 and 9-13
Group Assignment 25% Weeks 5, 6, 11, 12
Individual Assignment 25% Monday 8 May 8AM
Final Exam 40% Formal examination period
Unit description
This unit provides a conceptual understanding of consumer behaviour by integrating theories
from marketing, psychology, and sociology to provide an in-depth understanding of why
consumers think, feel and act the way that they do. The unit is therefore essentially about
'people watching' and so the unit is interested in what consumers discuss, how they interact
with each other, how they shop for items, decide upon them, buy (or not buy) them, consume
them and ultimately dispose of them. By the end of this unit, students will have a much deeper
and richer understanding of how having possessions not only affects our lives but how these
possessions also influence the way that we feel about ourselves and about one another.
Students will develop graduate capabilities in critical, analytical and integrative thinking.
Students must achieve 50% (50 marks out of 100) or higher to pass the unit.
Unit guide MKTG203 Consumer Behaviour
http://unitguides.mq.edu.au/unit_offerings/72980/unit_guide/print 5Participation
Due: Weeks 2-6 and 9-13
Weighting: 10%
Students have the opportunity to participate in multiple ways throughout the semester.
Participation will be assessed in weeks 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. Participation attracts
1% per week for a total of 10 weeks to a maximum of 10%. To be eligible for participation
marks, student must attend tutorial but can choose how to participate in each of the 10
assessable weeks. Students will have the opportunity to participate in tutorials, in lecture and in
weekly online iLearn discussion forums. Participation will be graded throughout the semester
based on the level of engagement and quality of comments, questions and feedback provided.
Tutorial Participation. Starting in Week 2 students can participate in tutorials by engaging in
the weekly tutorial discussions. Students also can assist their own tutorial groups as well as
others in developing the Creative Productions.
• In weeks 2, 3, 4, 8, 9 and 10 students will have the opportunity to participate in tutorial by
discussing the weekly consumer behaviour topics and required readings.
• During the presentation weeks in weeks 5, 6, 11 and 12, students also have
opportunities to participate. After listening carefully to other tutorial presentations,
students can participate by acting as a sounding board providing immediate feedback on
aspects of others' work as well as providing guidance for future direction, points of
clarification and suggestions for improvement. Participation marks also will accrue to any
student within the presenting group who fields questions posed by the audience.
Lecture and iLearn Participation. Students also can participate in lectures and on the weekly
iLearn discussion boards by raising and posting interesting issues, responding to questions
asked and by challenging materials in the textbook, lecture sides, required readings and video
clips.
NOTE: Tutorial attendance is required but not sufficient to attract participation marks. Students
must attend tutorial and also participate that week either in tutorial, in lecture or in the online
iLearn discussion forum.
WARNING: For every tutorial missed, you must go through the formal online process and submit
a Disruption to Studies (DTS). Failure to attend tutorial or to obtain an approved (DTS) will
result in 0 for that week’s participation.
This Assessment Task relates to the following Learning Outcomes:
• Identify, understand, and articulate a range of external and internal influences on
consumer behaviour.
Unit guide MKTG203 Consumer Behaviour
http://unitguides.mq.edu.au/unit_offerings/72980/unit_guide/print 6• Critically discuss, analyse and integrate consumer behaviour literature to create coherent
and theoretically rigorous arguments relating to ethical and sustainable consumption.
Group Assignment
Due: Weeks 5, 6, 11, 12
Weighting: 25%
CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR AND GLOBAL CHALLENGES GROUP CREATIVE PRODUCTION
Sustainable consumption is one of the world’s biggest challenges. Consumption is complex
affecting people’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. People need to consume
to survive yet many today live in poverty in appalling conditions with limited access to food, clean
water, housing, healthcare and education. While underconsumption is a critical problem for lowincome consumers, overconsumption is increasingly becoming problematic for middle to highincome consumers whose excessive consumption not only damages the environment but can
also lead to physical, mental and financial distress (Sheth, Sethia and Srinivas, 2011). Both
underconsumption and overconsumption are not sustainable and lead to serious detrimental
consequences for the environment, for individual consumers and for society.
Consider the environmental impact and the needs of vulnerable consumers within your
community and the world around you. Working together as a consumer research group, identify
a social, health or environmental issue to tackle due to either underconsumption (e.g. poverty,
illiteracy, hunger, etc.) or overconsumption (e.g., obesity, cyber-bullying, alcohol-fuelled violence,
etc.). The creative production is in three stages. Stage 1: As a group conduct background
research to explain why the identified issue is problematic from a sustainability view point. Stage
2: As individuals think through the ethical concerns and use relevant theoretical literature to
critically examine the consumer behaviour in terms of personal, interpersonal and cultural
influences. Stage 3: As a group integrate group members’ individual consumer research and
develop an innovative solution to address the issue.
Creative Production requirements and due dates:
Stage 1: Group work (10%): Problem Identification & Background Research.
• Due in Weeks 5 and 6.
• Created materials uploaded to iLearn and oral presentation in tutorials.
◦ Two group members present for 5 min each, 10 min per group.
Stage 2: Individual work (25%): Consumer Research & Ethical Implications
• Due in Week 9 on Monday 8 May at 8pm.
• Written assignment a maximum of 2000 words submitted to Turnitin.
Stage 3: Group work (15%): Research Integration & Problem Solution
• Due in Weeks 11 and 12.
• Created materials uploaded to iLearn and oral presentation in tutorials.
Unit guide MKTG203 Consumer Behaviour
http://unitguides.mq.edu.au/unit_offerings/72980/unit_guide/print 7◦ Remaining 2-3 group members present for 5 min each, 15 min per group.
Students will form groups in tutorials in week 2 and are required to remain in the same group for
the semester. Most student groups will have four to five students in each group. All group
members are to work as a team and participate equally to the Creative Production. The Creative
Production will be assessed based on the quality of the material created and presented.
Group work: Each group member must present AND must attend BOTH of their group’s
presentations. Members who fail to attend or to present will receive 0 marks, except for cases in
which an application for Disruption of Studies is made and approved.
Individual work: There will be a deduction of 10% of the total available marks made from the
total awarded mark for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late (for
example, 25 hours late in submission – 20% penalty). This penalty does not apply for cases in
which an application for disruption of studies is made and approved.
This Assessment Task relates to the following Learning Outcomes:
• Critically discuss, analyse and integrate consumer behaviour literature to create coherent
and theoretically rigorous arguments relating to ethical and sustainable consumption.
• Apply consumer behaviour knowledge to develop creative solutions to unsustainable
consumption decisions and practices acknowledging the ethical implications to society.
• Demonstrate understanding and application of roles and relationships within a group.
Individual Assignment
Due: Monday 8 May 8AM
Weighting: 25%
NOTE: This individual assignment is STAGE 2 of the group Creative Production and fulfils the
required individual component of group work in the unit.
Creative Production Stage 2: Individual work (25%): Consumer Research & Ethical
Implications
As individuals, think through the ethical concerns and use relevant theoretical literature to
critically examine consumer behaviour in terms of personal (e.g., consumer motivation, values,
identity, perception, learning and memory, personality, attitudes and attitude change, decisionmaking…), interpersonal (e.g., reference groups, social class and status) and cultural influences.
Each group member must investigate a different consumer behaviour influence as well as
discuss and compare two traditions of ethical thought that are relevant to the group issue
identified in Stage 1.
This is an essay based on scholarly journal article research, theory and critical evaluation/
synthesis (not mere description). You must support your work with a minimum of 5 high quality
Unit guide MKTG203 Consumer Behaviour
http://unitguides.mq.edu.au/unit_offerings/72980/unit_guide/print 8academic journal articles and at least one actual marketing example. Strict maximum of 2,000
words permitted.
Essays must be submitted online VIA Turnitin for MKTG203 by the due date.
• Your soft copy must include all parts of your work including a title Page with full student
name (last name in CAPITALS), ID number, tutor name, tutorial day and time, the
complete reference list and any appendices.
• Please name your file as follows: Surname_Tutor_Final Essay.doc
• Essay should be formatted in 12 times new roman font, 1.5 line spacing, regular
margins, headings in capitals and bold, sub-headings in upper and lower case and bold
italics.
• Word limit includes in-text citations, but not title page, sub-headings, reference list or
appendices.
• Full Harvard referencing is required (in-text citations and reference list).
• Essays will be marked electronically via GradeMark on Turnitin using iLearn, annotated
with comments from the marker. Your grades will be available for viewing in Gradebook
via iLearn. An announcement will be made on iLearn when assignments have been
marked.
• No extensions will be granted.
Notes:
• Failing to meet the 5 quality journal article minimum will lead to a 10% deduction of
marks.
◦ Keep in mind: The academic journal articles may address the actual topic, a
related topic or relevant ethical theories. Make sure to use quality journal
articles accessed from top ranking journals such as: Journal of Marketing,
Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Business Research, European
Journal of Marketing, etc.… If in doubt find out the journal ranking or pose a
question on the general iLearn discussion board.
• Failure to reference or inaccurate referencing will lead to a 10% deduction of marks.
• Exceeding the word limit will lead to a 10% deduction of marks. Markers will stop reading
once the 2000 word limit is reached.
• Late submissions will lead to a 10% deduction for each 24 hour period or part thereof (for
example, 25 hours late in submission – 20% penalty).
◦ This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for disruption of
studies is made and approved.
Unit guide MKTG203 Consumer Behaviour
http://unitguides.mq.edu.au/unit_offerings/72980/unit_guide/print 9This Assessment Task relates to the following Learning Outcomes:
• Critically discuss, analyse and integrate consumer behaviour literature to create coherent
and theoretically rigorous arguments relating to ethical and sustainable consumption.
• Apply consumer behaviour knowledge to develop creative solutions to unsustainable
consumption decisions and practices acknowledging the ethical implications to society.
Final Exam
Due: Formal examination period
Weighting: 40%
The duration of the exam is 3 hour held during the university’s exam period.
The final exam is comprehensive covering all materials in lectures (including guest lectures),
tutorials (including both group and individual components of the creative production), textbook
and required journal article readings.
The final exam is long essay format.
Failure to take the final exam will result in 0 out of 40 marks. Students who miss the final
exam due to illness will need to lodge an online disruption to studies application with
supporting documentation in order to be considered for a supplementary final exam.
This Assessment Task relates to the following Learning Outcomes:
• Identify, understand, and articulate a range of external and internal influences on
consumer behaviour.
• Critically discuss, analyse and integrate consumer behaviour literature to create coherent
and theoretically rigorous arguments relating to ethical and sustainable consumption.
• Apply consumer behaviour knowledge to develop creative solutions to unsustainable
consumption decisions and practices acknowledging the ethical implications to society.
Delivery and Resources
Lectures and Tutorials:
• This unit consists of 3 hours face-to-face teaching per week, one 2 hour lecture and one
1 hour tutorial
Required Reading: Textbook
• Ling, Peter, Steven D'Alessandro, and Hume Winzar. 2015. Consumer Behaviour in
Action. Oxford University Press: Australia and New Zealand.
Required Reading: Journal Articles
Unit guide MKTG203 Consumer Behaviour
http://unitguides.mq.edu.au/unit_offerings/72980/unit_guide/print 10Policies and Procedures
• Lemon, Katherine N., and Peter C. Verhoef. 2016. Understanding customer experience
throughout the customer journey. Journal of Marketing, 80, 6, 69-96.
• Olson, J. G., McFerran, B., Morales, A. C., & Dahl, D. W. (2016). Wealth and Welfare:
Divergent Moral Reactions to Ethical Consumer Choices. Journal of Consumer
Research, 42(6), 879-896.
• Sheth, Jagdish N., Nirmal K. Sethia, and Shanthi Srinivas. 2011. Mindful consumption: a
customer-centric approach to sustainability. Journal of the Academy of Marketing
Science, 39,1, 21-39.
Other Resources are available on the MKTG203 iLearn website Technology Used and
Required:
• Students are required to use power point, word processing and ilearn.
Unit Webpage:
• Course materials are available on the learning management system (iLearn)
• The web page for this unit can be found at: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au
• The timetable for this unit can be accessed from this portal: http://timetables.mq.edu.au
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students
should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the
Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The
Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special
Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of
Policy Central.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of
Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Unit guide MKTG203 Consumer Behaviour
http://unitguides.mq.edu.au/unit_offerings/72980/unit_guide/print 11Student Support
Student Enquiry Service
Equity Support
IT Help
Graduate Capabilities
Socially and Environmentally Active and Responsible
We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work
with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and
country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active
participants in moving society towards sustainability.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Results
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they
are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your
student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information
visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details,
visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study
strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
• Workshops
• StudyWise
• Academic Integrity Module for Students
• Ask a Learning Adviser
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide
appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/
offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy.
The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Unit guide MKTG203 Consumer Behaviour
http://unitguides.mq.edu.au/unit_offerings/72980/unit_guide/print 12Learning outcomes
• Critically discuss, analyse and integrate consumer behaviour literature to create coherent
and theoretically rigorous arguments relating to ethical and sustainable consumption.
• Apply consumer behaviour knowledge to develop creative solutions to unsustainable
consumption decisions and practices acknowledging the ethical implications to society.
Assessment tasks
• Group Assignment
• Individual Assignment
• Final Exam
Engaged and Ethical Local and Global citizens
As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's
historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with
knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded,
sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should
have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social
justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
• Critically discuss, analyse and integrate consumer behaviour literature to create coherent
and theoretically rigorous arguments relating to ethical and sustainable consumption.
• Apply consumer behaviour knowledge to develop creative solutions to unsustainable
consumption decisions and practices acknowledging the ethical implications to society.
Assessment tasks
• Group Assignment
• Individual Assignment
• Final Exam
Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge,
scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them
competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where
relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able
to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific
knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary
solutions to problems.
Unit guide MKTG203 Consumer Behaviour
http://unitguides.mq.edu.au/unit_offerings/72980/unit_guide/print 13This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
• Identify, understand, and articulate a range of external and internal influences on
consumer behaviour.
• Critically discuss, analyse and integrate consumer behaviour literature to create coherent
and theoretically rigorous arguments relating to ethical and sustainable consumption.
• Apply consumer behaviour knowledge to develop creative solutions to unsustainable
consumption decisions and practices acknowledging the ethical implications to society.
Assessment tasks
• Participation
• Group Assignment
• Individual Assignment
• Final Exam
Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate
and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to
critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and
systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to
have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Learning outcomes
• Identify, understand, and articulate a range of external and internal influences on
consumer behaviour.
• Critically discuss, analyse and integrate consumer behaviour literature to create coherent
and theoretically rigorous arguments relating to ethical and sustainable consumption.
• Apply consumer behaviour knowledge to develop creative solutions to unsustainable
consumption decisions and practices acknowledging the ethical implications to society.
• Demonstrate understanding and application of roles and relationships within a group.
Assessment tasks
• Participation
• Group Assignment
• Individual Assignment
• Final Exam
Unit guide MKTG203 Consumer Behaviour
http://unitguides.mq.edu.au/unit_offerings/72980/unit_guide/print 14Changes from Previous Offering
Global contexts & Sustainability
Research & Practice
The assessment tasks have changed. The textbook and required readings have changed.
This unit draws on high quality international consumer behaviour research with an emphasis on
sustainable value for business and society. Assessment tasks allow students to demonstrates
their knowledge of sustainability processes such as lifecycles, stakeholder interpretation and
systemic thinking.
This unit uses research from external sources (see journal article reading list). This unit gives
you practice in applying research findings in your assignments. This unit gives you opportunities
to conduct your own .
Unit guide MKTG203 Consumer Behaviour
http://unitguides.mq.edu.au/unit_offerings/72980/unit_guide/print 15