2023/24 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

TRAN3062 Social Analysis and Social Psychology for Transport

10 creditsClass Size: 50

Module manager: Ann Jopson
Email: a.f.jopson@its.leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

This module is approved as a discovery module

This module is approved as a skills discovery module

Module summary

This module is aimed at students who are interested in cities and urban planning and who may be considering a planning related career when they graduate. It focuses on different theoretical perspectives for understanding travel behaviour, which are contrasted with traditional Transport Economics. There is a particular focus on the Social Psychology perspective. The module considers the relevance and importance of different perspectives for good decision making. The module includes a variety of teaching methods including traditional lectures on specialist topics, and interactive sessions, all designed to engage & stimulate students to develop their understanding of the module content. Students address a transport planning case study using future visioning techniques. Activities include applying Social Psychology methods and exploring community engagement techniques. By the end of the module, all students should have gained an improved understanding of travel and transport as a social phenomenon relevant to urban and sustainability planning, as well as transport planning processes in practice and should feel better equipped for the transport planning job market! Teaching takes place over the second semester and the module is assessed purely through coursework.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should have acquired:
- Understanding of the motivations for and constraints on travel behaviour from different theoretical perspectives
- Understanding how different theoretical perspectives contrast with and/or complement traditional Transport Economics
- Understanding of how qualitative approaches can contribute to decision making alongside quantitative methods
- Skills in personal development and communication consistent with the requirements of a professional environment

Learning outcomes
- Ability to understand and apply Social Psychology theory (for example, the Theory of Planned Behaviour)
- Understanding of other theoretical perspectives including (but not limited to) Transport Economics, Mobilities and Time-Space Geography with particular reference to the social analysis of Transport phenomenon
- Understanding the individual motivations that underpin transport demand.

Skills outcomes
Social Psychology theory for explaining behaviour (for example, Theory of Planned Behaviour).

Syllabus

This module combines traditional lectures with a project-based approach, to provide a balanced learning environment for investigating techniques to analyse and understand transport activity.

Material covered will include:
- Origins of transport activity
- Theories of travel behaviour
- The relationship between travel and human activities
- Qualitative approaches for exploring the impacts of travel in society.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	10	1.00	10.00
Lecture	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			80.00
Total Contact hours			20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

Background reading for lectures;
Preparation for seminars & workshops;
Essay research & writing;

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Assessed work carried out across the module. All students will be expected to contribute actively to seminars and workshops held throughout the module.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2,000 words	50.00
Assignment	1,500 word briefing note	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 28/04/2023 14:56:45

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