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Consumer Behaviour - MAN00029C

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  • Department: The York Management School
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: C
  • Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
    • See module specification for other years: 2024-25

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2023-24

Module aims

This module aims for the students to develop an understanding of:

  • Consumer behaviour and its role in marketing and management

  • Basic and interdisciplinary principles that shape consumer behaviour

  • Psychological science, including areas of social and cognitive psychology relevant to marketing

  • Consumer research methods.

Module learning outcomes

Subject content

  • Consumer decision making and judgment

  • Interdisciplinary approaches to consumer behaviour

  • Psychological principles (for example cognitive, social, behavioural, environmental) and consumer bias

  • Managerial applications of interdisciplinary principles

Academic and graduate skills

  • Ability to identify and evaluate systematic influences on consumer behaviour

  • Ability to apply principles of consumer behaviour strategically in marketing contexts

  • Ability to design and critically evaluate consumer choice architecture

  • Ability to interpret research on consumer behaviour

  • Ability to conduct research on consumer behaviour

Module content

Indicative lecture topics:

  • Perception

  • Choice architecture

  • Hedonic judgement

  • Emotions

  • Temptation and self-control

  • Social cognition and social influence

  • Cultural differences (and similarities) – social and cultural aspects of consumption

  • Pricing tactics

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 80
Essay/coursework 20

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Essay/coursework 80
Essay/coursework 20

Module feedback

Group work:

Students will receive written feedback on each of the three submissions. Feedback will be timed as follows: feedback for the first group work will be provided prior to the deadline of the second submission; feedback for the second will be provided prior the deadline of the third submission; and feedback for the third will be provided prior to the deadline of the individual essay. Feedback will address (1) quality of argument, (2) quality of exposition, and (3) application/analysis of key concepts.

Individual essay:

Students will receive written feedback on the individual essay. Feedback will address (1) quality of argument, (2) quality of exposition, and (3) application/analysis of key concepts.

The module will provide feedback within School-mandated timeframes.

Indicative reading

Useful textbooks

Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking Fast and Slow. London: Penguin Group.

Thaler, R. H., & Sunstein, C. R. (2009). Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth and Happiness. London: Penguin.

Solomon, M. R. (2015). Consumer Behaviour. Global Edition 11th edition. London: Pearson.

Useful Journals

Journal of Consumer Psychology

Journal of Consumer Research

Journal of Marketing

Journal of Marketing Research

Harvard Business Review

California Management Review

MIT Sloan Management Review


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.