Year
2024Credit points
10Campus offering
Prerequisites
Nil
Teaching organisation
150 hours over a twelve-week semester or equivalent study period
Unit rationale, description and aim
For a business to remain competitive in the marketplace it must meet the needs of its customers more effectively than its competitors. To do this a comprehensive understanding of customers is required. To gain a strong understanding of customer’s purchase patterns and consumption, the unit views the consumer decision-making process from the individual, organisational and public policy perspectives. Theories and concepts are drawn from disciplines such as cognitive psychology, social psychology, sociology, anthropology, and demography to discover and understand various aspects of buyer behaviour. Specific topics of study include but are not limited to: cultural, demographic and psychographic influences; consumer perception and learning; motivation, personality and emotion; and purchase decision processes
The aim of this unit is for students to develop an understanding of how and why consumer make purchasing decisions and how consumer perspectives can and should be included in the marketing management process. The knowledge and critical thinking gained from this unit offers guidance on how marketing managers can respond to buyers’ needs and facilitate purchase behaviour.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
| Learning Outcome Number | Learning Outcome Description |
|---|---|
| LO1 | Explain the theory and practice of consumer behaviour |
| LO2 | Demonstrate understanding of current trends in buyer behaviour impacting on marketer decision making from product concept through to disposal |
| LO3 | Demonstrate an understanding of the responsibility of marketers to respect and include consumer perspectives in decision making to achieve customer satisfaction and marketing and organisational objectives |
| LO4 | Apply critical and reflective thinking skills to solve consumer behaviour problems facing marketing managers |
Content
Topics will include:
- overview of buyer behaviour
- consumer research
- consumer-relevant characteristics: personality, needs, motivation and self-concept
- internal influences on consumer behaviour: perception, learning and attitudes
- external influences on consumer behaviour: society, culture, social class, education, income, ethnicity and family
- consumer decision making models
- organisational buying
- communication, persuasion and diffusion of innovations.
- consumer and society: public policy and consumer protection
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
The learning and teaching strategy is based on student engagement in the learning process by participation in workshops or equivalent and practical activities designed to reinforce learning. Workshops or equivalent activities support students to actively participate in the construction and synthesis of knowledge both individually and in small groups. The learning strategy adopted in this unit can be described as constructivist or student-centred. Thus, students are expected to be active participants in their learning to enhance life-long learning experience. In this student-centred learning environment, your instructor creates an enabling learning environment and conditions to facilitate your learning by guiding you through relevant learning tasks and a valid assessment regime.
The rationale is to encourage deep learning instead of surface or rote learning, as deep learning will develop critical thinking skills and prepare you for competitive business and non-business environments.
A variety of learning materials (real-life examples, case studies from current issues relating to the theory and practice of consumer behaviour, journal articles, videos, lecture capture) will be used. Deep learning is likely to be fully realised as students are exposed to this variety of learning tasks.
Mode of delivery: This unit is offered in different modes. These are: "Attendance" mode, "Multi" mode and "Online" mode. This unit is offered in three modes to cater to the learning needs and preferences of a range of participants and maximise effective participation for isolated and/or marginalised groups.
Attendance Mode
In an attendance mode, students will require face-to-face attendance in specific physical location/s. Students will have face-to-face interactions with lecturer(s) to further their achievement of the learning outcomes. This unit is structured with required upfront preparation before workshops, most students report that they spend an average of one hour preparing before the workshop and one or more hours after the workshop practicing and revising what was covered. The online learning platforms used in this unit provide multiple forms of preparatory and practice opportunities for students to prepare and revise.
Multi-Mode
In a multi-mode, students will require intermittent face-to-face attendance determined by the School. Students will have face-to-face interactions with lecturer(s) to further their achievement of the learning outcomes. This unit is structured with required upfront preparation before workshops. The online learning platforms used in this unit provide multiple forms of preparatory and practice opportunities for students to prepare and revise.
Online Mode
In an online mode, students engage in asynchronous learning and participate in the construction and synthesis of knowledge, while developing their knowledge. Students are required to participate in a series of online interactive activities to enhance their learning including knowledge checks, discussion boards and self-paced exercises. This approach allows flexibility for students and facilitates learning and participation for students with a preference for virtual learning.
ACU Online
This unit uses an active learning approach to support students in the exploration of knowledge essential to the discipline. Students are provided with choice and variety in how they learn. Students are encouraged to contribute to asynchronous weekly discussions. Active learning opportunities provide students with opportunities to practice and apply their learning in situations similar to their future professions. Activities encourage students to bring their own examples to demonstrate understanding, application and engage constructively with their peers. Students receive regular and timely feedback on their learning, which includes information on their progress.
Assessment strategy and rationale
In order to pass this unit, students are required to demonstrate mastery of all learning outcomes and achieve an aggregate mark of at least 50%. Marking of each assessment task will be in accordance with rubrics specifically developed to measure student level of achievement of the learning outcomes for each assessment item.
Assessments are used primarily to facilitate the learning process. ACU adopts a constructivist approach to learning which seeks alignment between the fundamental purpose of each unit, the LOs, teaching and learning strategy, assessment and the learning environment. Active learning by students is encouraged, and the focus is on deep learning as opposed to surface or rote learning.
A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. Such procedures may include, but are not limited to: reports, examinations, student presentations or case studies.
The aim of the first assessment is to examine students’ understanding of the first part of the unit learning materials. While the second assessment deals with accumulation of knowledge, the first and third assessments focus on the understanding of a real-world consumer behaviour issue and the application of knowledge to resolve consumer behaviour issues in the most effective manner. The demonstration of this understanding and application is through the second assessment which employs engagement-led discussions and other activities focusing on the trends related to marketers’ decision making and their responsibility to respect and include consumer perspective. The rationale is to enable students to demonstrate their understanding of these materials and to also assist the instructor to gauge students’ level of understanding to inform delivery of subsequent materials to the maximum benefit of students.
Academic integrity is maximised via the use of new topics each semester. Topics will reflect emerging trends in the literature for assessment 1 and contemporary issues or events related to consumer behaviour in assessment 2. Similarly, a specified case will be provided in assessment 3.
Overview of assessments
| Brief Description of Kind and Purpose of Assessment Tasks | Weighting | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
Assessment Task 1: (Live) Case Study analysis This assessment task consists of a 2000-word case study analysis report. This task requires students to complete a real-world case study which provides students with the opportunity to identify and discuss the theories and practice of consumer behaviour in an applied context. Submission Type: Individual Assessment Method: Case study Artefact: Written report | 40% | LO1, LO2 |
Assessment Task 2: Portfolio of Engagement From weeks 4-9, students will actively participate in online discussion forums and online activities. The online discussion forum and online activities will constitute 30% of total marks. Students will be evaluated on a combination of engagement in the unit via discussion board questions, responses to postings and evidence of successful engagement in online asynchronous activities. The focus of the engagement activities will be on current trends in buyer behaviour impacting on marketers’ decision making and the responsibility of marketers to respect and include consumer perspectives. Submission Type: Individual Assessment Method: online engagement and completion of regular learning tasks Artefact: Portfolio evidencing engagement | 30% | LO2, LO3 |
Assessment Task 3: Applied topics in Consumer Behaviour - Analytical Report This assessment task consists of a 2000-word analytic report. This task requires students to analyse a consumer behaviour scenario, demonstrating their understanding and application of key CB concepts and theories and considering the responsibility of the marketer to incorporate consumer perspectives in decision making. The topic or scenario will be provided and reflect current issues in consumer behaviour. This assessment will be implemented in the form of Global Virtual Classroom (GVC) in collaboration with partner educational institutions. Submission Type: Group Assessment Method: Analytic report Artefact: Written report | 30% | LO2, LO4 |
Representative texts and references
Mothersbaugh, D.L., Hawkins, D.I., Kleiser, S.B., Mothersbaugh, L.L. and Watson, C.F., 2020. Consumer behavior: Building marketing strategy. McGraw-Hill Education.
Zaraket, S., 2020. Consumer Behaviour and Social Network Sites: The Impact of Negative Word of Mouth. Routledge.
Muthu, S.S. ed., 2019. Consumer Behaviour and Sustainable Fashion Consumption. Springer.
Smith, A., 2019. Consumer behaviour and analytics. Routledge.
Solomon, MR, Russell-Bennett, R & Previte, F Consumer Behaviour: Buying, Having and Being,
4th Edition 2018 Pearson Australia.
Keller, K.L., 2020. Consumer research insights on brands and branding: a JCR curation. Journal of Consumer Research, 46(5), pp.995-1001.
Goldsmith, K. and Lee, A.Y., 2021. A view from inside: Insights on consumer behavior during a global pandemic. Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, 6(1), pp.142-148.
Lubowiecki-Vikuk, A., Dąbrowska, A. and Machnik, A., 2021. Responsible consumer and lifestyle: Sustainability insights. Sustainable production and consumption, 25, pp.91-101.
Malter, M.S., Holbrook, M.B., Kahn, B.E., Parker, J.R. and Lehmann, D.R., 2020. The past, present, and future of consumer research. Marketing Letters, 31(2), pp.137-149.
Zolkepli, I.A., Mukhiar, S.N.S. and Tan, C., 2021. Mobile consumer behaviour on apps usage: The effects of perceived values, rating, and cost. Journal of Marketing Communications, 27(6), pp.571-593.
Eger, L., Komárková, L., Egerová, D. and Mičík, M., 2021. The effect of COVID-19 on consumer shopping behaviour: Generational cohort perspective. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 61, p.102542.
Nguyen, N. and Johnson, L.W., 2020. Consumer behaviour and environmental sustainability. Journal of Consumer Behaviour, 19(6), pp.539-541.
Journals
Journal of Consumer Affairs
Journal of Consumer Behaviour
Journal of Consumer Psychology
Journal of Consumer Research
Psychology & Marketing