Spring semester

Components of Assessment	Method(s)	Percentage weighting
Coursework	Essay (2000 words)	50%
Coursework	Research proposal (2500 words)	50%

None

1. To provide students with an understanding of the major theoretical formulations and models in the area of risk in order to provide a conceptual underpinning to inform their approach to research and practice.

2. To provide students with a knowledge of individual, organisational and social aspects of approaches to environmental risks.

3. To provide students with an understanding of different risk management strategies and to compare and contrast these different strategies.

4. To provide students with the skills to conduct research and consultancy work on environmental risk issues. 

5. To expose students to the philosophy and history of environmental attitude and behaviour change research in order to provide a conceptual underpinning to inform their understanding of the major theoretical formulations and models used to investigate attitude and behaviour change research and practice.

6. To provide the students with an advanced knowledge and understanding of methods, theory and practice of environment-behaviour research as related to sustainability and quality of life issues.

7. To train students in problem analysis and formulation, intervention, assessment and evaluation as appropriate to environmental risk in order to enable them to conduct empirical research of their own.

8. To develop interpersonal, technical and communication skills required for their effective transition to the world of work by providing opportunities to take personal control of their own development, promoting individual and team working, enhancing decision making skills.

9. To raise the awareness of students to cognate disciplines in order that they are aware of the perspectives and orientations of these disciplines and can engage in a mutually informative dialogue.

10. To facilitate self-reflection in support of personal and professional development via constructive feedback.

11. To enable students to link theoretical and empirical questions to social and environmental issues with a view to understanding the practical applications and action implications of environmental psychological theories and empirical findings.

12. To impart procedures and practices for the ethical conduct of research.

Week 1. An introduction to environmental risk
Week 2. Natural and technological hazards
Week 3. Environmental risk perception
Week 4. Environmental values and attitudes
Week 5. Sustainable consumption
Week 6. Managing environmental risks: behaviour change strategies.
Week 7. Attitude change and environmental education.
Week 8. Waste minimisation and energy use.
Week 9. Transport.
Week 10. Sustainable development and quality of life.

Lectures and seminars    

Bechtel, R.B. & Churchman, A. (2003). Handbook of Environmental Psychology. New York : Wiley. 
Lofstedt, R. & Frewer, L (1998). The Earthscan Reader in Risk and Modern Society, London : Earthscan. 
Nickerson, R.S. (2003). Psychology and Environmental Change. London: Lawrence Erlbaum. 
Schmuck, P. & Schultz, W.P. (2003). Psychology of Sustainable Development. London : Kluwer.