EFB130 Multi-disciplinary Approaches to Behaviour Change
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | EFB130 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | 48 credit points of completed study |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $2,124 |
| Pre-2021 CSP student contribution | $996 The pre-2021 commonwealth supported place (CSP) contribution amount only applies to students enrolled in a course prior to 2021. To learn more, visit our Understanding your fees page. |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $3,204 |
| International unit fee | $4,572 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | EFB130 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | 24 credit points of completed study |
| Equivalent: | AMB130 |
| Coordinator: | Gregory Kubitz | gregory.kubitz@qut.edu.au |
Overview
In this introductory behavioural economics unit, you will gain a core understanding of human behaviour and decision-making by exploring a comprehensive range of foundational theories from economics, psychology, and neuroscience. You will also learn about approaches to designing behaviour change solutions that rely on behavioural uptake. This unit involves a real-world client and asks students to apply behavioural theories and design a basic behaviour change program. This unit is relevant to students of business, law, psychology and health as an elective and as a core unit for the Behavioural Economics major.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Understand behavioural concepts from different disciplines and apply them to identify barriers and motivators for behaviour change. [KS 1.1, 1.2]
- Identify and communicate your own perspective and approach to behaviour change through reflection. [PC 3.1, TS 4.1]
- Evaluate ethical considerations of behavioural change approaches used by different disciplines. [SE 5.1]
- Critically analyse real-world organisational problems to develop and convey recommendations for behavioural interventions. [HO2.1, HO2.2, PC3.2]
- Work in diverse teams using effective teamwork tools and skills to create and convey recommendations to business audiences. [TS 4.2]
Content
The unit will cover foundational theories of behaviour using an evolutionary lens that allows exploration of both how we make decisions as well as why. It combines insights from multiple disciplines including economics, psychology and neuroscience and covers the following key content areas:
- Biological limitations to cognition and decision making
- Psychological factors that influence decision making
- Differences between human behaviour and behaviour of 'rational' economic agents
- Design of behavioural solutions to solve real world social, economic and policy related problems.
QUT Business Capabilities (Undergraduate)
The content and assessment in this unit are aligned to a selection of the following set of QUT Business Capabilities, also known as Assurance of Learning Goals (AoLs). Developing these capabilities will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT and equip you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in your chosen career.
Knowledge and Technological Skills (KS)
1.1 Demonstrate and apply integrated discipline (including technical) knowledge across the broad field of business with depth in one or more core business disciplines.
1.2 Apply technical and technological skills appropriate and effective for real world business purposes and contexts.
Higher Order Thinking (HO)
2.1 Investigate real world business issues and situations through the effective analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice.
2.2 Exercise independent judgment and initiative in adapting and applying knowledge and skills for effective planning, problem solving and decision making in diverse contexts.
Professional Communication (PC)
3.1 Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.
3.2 Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in oral forms, appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.
Teamwork and Self (TS)
4.1 Exercise self-reflection, responsibility and accountability in relation to own learning and professional practice.
4.2 Apply teamwork knowledge and skills for effective collaboration across diverse purposes and contexts.
Social, Ethical and Global Understanding (SE)
5.1 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices in analysing and responding to business issues.
5.2 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues in national and international business contexts.
Learning Approaches
One two-hour lecture is provided each week. The lecture program involves the presentation of theoretical and empirical material by the lecturer, with opportunity for questions from students.
A one-hour tutorial, organised in the format of a workshop is provided each week. The tutorial program consists of working on problems/questions designed to test basic understanding, critical analysis, higher-level thinking, as well as applications of economic, psychological and neuro-scientific principles to questions of an empirical or applied nature. The tutorial questions are designed to prepare students for the assessments.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester, which may include:
- Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal
- Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary
- Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
- Indirect: to whole class.
Practice questions will be available on canvas and feedback on the questions will be provided online and/or in tutorials starting by Week 3.
Assessment
Overview
The assessment tasks in this unit are designed to provide you with opportunities to practise and develop the evidence-based skills needed to understand and respond to real-world challenges within social, economic, and a variety of policy settings.
Students may be required to attend campus or an assessment centre for the purposes of assessment, regardless of the attendance mode for the unit.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Essay
This is an assessment item that has both an analysis and a reflective component. Students will apply theories and concepts from the unit to help them understand their behaviour and associated barriers and motivators. Students will also be required to provide recommendations for an organisation seeking to support behaviour change for similar consumers and consider the ethical considerations of this behavioural policy.
Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative
Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1, 1.2), PC (3.1), TS (4.1), SE(5.1)
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Behavioural Challenge Group Presentation
Students will form teams and will be provided with a real-world brief to address a behavioural challenge supplied by an industry or government organisation. Working together, students will compare and contrast insights from different disciplines before recommending a final behavioural intervention. Justification for why this intervention will address the client problem is necessary. The format of the assignment will be a 10 minute presentation followed by 5 minutes of question and answer in addition to a two-page brief.
Formative or Summative: Summative
Business Capabilities (AoL goals): HO (2.1, 2.2), PC (3.2), TS (4.2)
The written component is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
There are no prescribed texts. Weekly readings will be available via QUT readings.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with lectures or tutorials in this unit. You should, however, familiarise yourself with evacuation procedures operating in the buildings in which you attend classes and take the time to
view the Emergency video.
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Online
| Unit code: | EFB130 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | 24 credit points of completed study |
| Equivalent: | AMB130 |
Overview
In this introductory behavioural economics unit, you will gain a core understanding of human behaviour and decision-making by exploring a comprehensive range of foundational theories from economics, psychology, and neuroscience. You will also learn about approaches to designing behaviour change solutions that rely on behavioural uptake. This unit involves a real-world client and asks students to apply behavioural theories and design a basic behaviour change program. This unit is relevant to students of business, law, psychology and health as an elective and as a core unit for the Behavioural Economics major.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Understand behavioural concepts from different disciplines and apply them to identify barriers and motivators for behaviour change. [KS 1.1, 1.2]
- Identify and communicate your own perspective and approach to behaviour change through reflection. [PC 3.1, TS 4.1]
- Evaluate ethical considerations of behavioural change approaches used by different disciplines. [SE 5.1]
- Critically analyse real-world organisational problems to develop and convey recommendations for behavioural interventions. [HO2.1, HO2.2, PC3.2]
- Work in diverse teams using effective teamwork tools and skills to create and convey recommendations to business audiences. [TS 4.2]
Content
The unit will cover foundational theories of behaviour using an evolutionary lens that allows exploration of both how we make decisions as well as why. It combines insights from multiple disciplines including economics, psychology and neuroscience and covers the following key content areas:
- Biological limitations to cognition and decision making
- Psychological factors that influence decision making
- Differences between human behaviour and behaviour of 'rational' economic agents
- Design of behavioural solutions to solve real world social, economic and policy related problems.
QUT Business Capabilities (Undergraduate)
The content and assessment in this unit are aligned to a selection of the following set of QUT Business Capabilities, also known as Assurance of Learning Goals (AoLs). Developing these capabilities will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT and equip you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in your chosen career.
Knowledge and Technological Skills (KS)
1.1 Demonstrate and apply integrated discipline (including technical) knowledge across the broad field of business with depth in one or more core business disciplines.
1.2 Apply technical and technological skills appropriate and effective for real world business purposes and contexts.
Higher Order Thinking (HO)
2.1 Investigate real world business issues and situations through the effective analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice.
2.2 Exercise independent judgment and initiative in adapting and applying knowledge and skills for effective planning, problem solving and decision making in diverse contexts.
Professional Communication (PC)
3.1 Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.
3.2 Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in oral forms, appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.
Teamwork and Self (TS)
4.1 Exercise self-reflection, responsibility and accountability in relation to own learning and professional practice.
4.2 Apply teamwork knowledge and skills for effective collaboration across diverse purposes and contexts.
Social, Ethical and Global Understanding (SE)
5.1 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices in analysing and responding to business issues.
5.2 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues in national and international business contexts.
Learning Approaches
One two-hour lecture is provided each week. The lecture program involves the presentation of theoretical and empirical material by the lecturer, with opportunity for questions from students.
A one-hour tutorial, organised in the format of a workshop is provided each week. The tutorial program consists of working on problems/questions designed to test basic understanding, critical analysis, higher-level thinking, as well as applications of economic, psychological and neuro-scientific principles to questions of an empirical or applied nature. The tutorial questions are designed to prepare students for the assessments.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester, which may include:
- Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal
- Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary
- Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
- Indirect: to whole class.
Practice questions will be available on canvas and feedback on the questions will be provided online and/or in tutorials starting by Week 3.
Assessment
Overview
The assessment tasks in this unit are designed to provide you with opportunities to practise and develop the evidence-based skills needed to understand and respond to real-world challenges within social, economic, and a variety of policy settings.
Students may be required to attend campus or an assessment centre for the purposes of assessment, regardless of the attendance mode for the unit.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Essay
This is an assessment item that has both an analysis and a reflective component. Students will apply theories and concepts from the unit to help them understand their behaviour and associated barriers and motivators. Students will also be required to provide recommendations for an organisation seeking to support behaviour change for similar consumers and consider the ethical considerations of this behavioural policy.
Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative
Business Capabilities (AoL goals): KS (1.1, 1.2), PC (3.1), TS (4.1), SE(5.1)
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Assessment: Behavioural Challenge Group Presentation
Students will form teams and will be provided with a real-world brief to address a behavioural challenge supplied by an industry or government organisation. Working together, students will compare and contrast insights from different disciplines before recommending a final behavioural intervention. Justification for why this intervention will address the client problem is necessary. The format of the assignment will be a 10 minute presentation followed by 5 minutes of question and answer in addition to a two-page brief.
Formative or Summative: Summative
Business Capabilities (AoL goals): HO (2.1, 2.2), PC (3.2), TS (4.2)
The written component is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.
The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.
You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.
Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.
Resources
There are no prescribed texts. Weekly readings will be available via QUT readings.
Risk Assessment Statement
There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with lectures or tutorials in this unit. You should, however, familiarise yourself with evacuation procedures operating in the buildings in which you attend classes and take the time to
view the Emergency video.