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2019/20 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

TRAN3062 Social Analysis and Social Psychology for Transport

10 creditsClass Size: 35

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

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2019/20

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. There are a number of traditional lectures on specialist topics, but much of the work is carried out through interactive workshops. Students form groups and pool their skills to address a transport planning case study of north Leeds. Activities include apply Social Psychology methods and undertaking focus groups of public attitudes in a role play scenario. 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 hopefully feel better equipped for the transport planning job market! Teaching takes place over the second semester and the module is assessed purely through coursework and an end-of-year presentation (ie there is no exam). For further information please contact Ann Jopson (a.f.jopson@its.leeds.ac.uk).

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 group work, personal development, presentation and reporting 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.
Lectures will be complemented by a series of seminars and practical classes, during which students will work in groups towards a focused project. Assessment will involve two pieces of work, including one essay and a final project presentation.

Lectures will be complemented by a series of seminars and practical classes, during which students will work in groups towards a focused project. Assessment will involve two pieces of work, including one project report and a final project presentation.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
presentation22.004.00
Lecture81.008.00
Practical22.004.00
Seminar22.004.00
Private study hours80.00
Total Contact hours20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)100.00

Private study

Background reading for lectures;
Preparation for seminars & practical classes;
Essay research & writing;
Presentation prep.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

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

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Essay2,000 words50.00
Oral PresentationGroup Presentation50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

The group presentation resit takes the form of an individual presentation to two members of the module team. The content brief is the same, but the volume of work expected is adjusted to fit with an individual piece of work.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/04/2019

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