NIFK14029U Motivation and Pro-Environmental Behaviour - Managing Change
MSc Programme in Climate Change
MSc Programme in Forest and Nature Management
MSc Programme in Nature Management
This course focuses on ways to motivate pro-environmental
behaviour change.
Individual and societal behaviours and values are inextricably
linked to pressing global enviro-social challenges such
as climate change and the decline in global biodiversity. Key
questions addressed in this course include: How can humans –
as consumers, producers, and members of
diverse communities - be motivated towards
environmentally-friendly behaviour? This will entail a range of
actions, such reducing home energy consumption, regenerative
practices on farmland, a greater use of bikes or public
transport instead of cars, increased recycling, buying
organic products, and participation in social/political
movements. What are different strategies to achieve
behavioural change, and what effects do the various
changes have, both intended and unintended and at various
scales?
This course builds on theories about motivation and behaviour,
theories of change, real life cases and practical tools to initiate
and sustain behavioural change among individuals, groups, and
organisations.
The motivation and behaviour theories span studies of
specific, individual behaviour (e.g. theory of planned behaviour),
to macro level studies of how behaviour is shaped by societal
factors like infrastructure, technology, economy, public discourse
and media debate. Some theories approach human behaviour as
shaped by economically-oriented and/or rational choices,
while others expand rationality to acknowledge constraints and
consider the effect of values, while others still focus
on broader societal norms. Other theories focus on habits,
emotions, and direct experiences as formative for behavioural
change.
Contemporary interventions will be showcased throughout the
course, such as political and
grassroots campaigns and public sector schemes.
Based on real-life cases from private and public organisations engaged at various levels (municipal, national, global) on environmental issues and management, students will learn to apply these theories in the real world and become better equipped as global citizens and future policy makers and policy influencers, to formulate intervention strategies to achieve desired changes. Students are also expected to consider the implications of behavioural theories on policy practice. How do the different ways we conceive of human behaviour, enable or limit what becomes possible in relation to environmental behavioural change?
The aim of this course is to provide students with skills to
understand, analyse and conduct change processes aimed at enhancing
environmentally friendly behaviour. This is done by introducing
students to a set of theoretical approaches to study motivation,
behaviour, and behavioural change, and to enable students to apply
these in their own work.
Based on the course, it is expected that the student can
Knowledge:
- understand and describe a set of theories of motivation and
behaviour
- understand and describe selected theories of individual,
collective and structural change
Skills:
- apply relevant behavioural theory to environmental cases, be it
national park management, transport behaviour, recycling, energy
and food consumption or private land management.
- suggest strategies and actions to enhance environmentally
friendly behaviour in selected cases
Competencies:
- critically discuss opportunities and limitations to behavioural
change in light of overarching political, legal, and
structural conditions.
The course will be based on scientific articles and key references on 1) motivation and behaviour theory, and 2) strategies and tools for management of change in organizations and communities.
Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 40
- Class Instruction
- 16
- Preparation
- 78
- Theory exercises
- 64
- Excursions
- 8
- Total
- 206
Students get feedback on the group report project component assignments and overall report, from the lecturers and from their peers. The report components are handed in at several points through the course and students receive feedback (in plenary and oral) for each, so it can be used for the next assignment and finally the group report handed in at the end of the course.
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Oral examination, 20 minutes20 minutes. No time for preparation.
- Exam registration requirements
A group project report must be submitted and approved before the exam.
- Aid
- Without aids
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Several internal examiners
- Re-exam
Same as ordinary exam.
Criteria for exam assesment
See the criteria for Learning outcome
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- NIFK14029U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 3
- Schedule
- B
- Course capacity
- 75
The number of seats may be reduced in the late registration period - Course is also available as continuing and professional education
- Study board
- Study Board of Natural Resources, Environment and Animal Science
Contracting departments
- Department of Food and Resource Economics
- Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinators
- Rebecca Leigh Rutt (3-79737947706d797635727c356b72)
- Lise Byskov Herslund (4-73706f6c47706e7535727c356b72)