2025/26 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LUBS3014 Behavioural Science in the Contemporary Workplace

10 Credits Class Size: 40

Module manager: Dr Helen Hughes
Email: h.hughes@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2025/26

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module offers students the chance to utilise the Business School’s Behaviour Lab, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to apply behavioural sciences in their careers and research. The module covers essential theories and concepts for careers in business, public policy, research, or consultancy. Key areas include: - Designing behavioural interventions and experiments - Analysing data and interpreting results with innovative approaches - Applying behavioural science theories to real-world challenges through case studies and lab-based learning. You will deepen your understanding of behavioural science, enhance practical skills, and develop critical thinking to interpret data and recommend behavioural changes. Additionally, you will grasp the ethical and practical considerations in conducting behavioural research and interventions. Suitable for students from diverse backgrounds, the module is delivered through a series of lectures and practical workshops and is particularly appropriate for those wishing to learn more about experimental research design for their dissertations.

Objectives

Proposed objectives:

The primary aim of this module is to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of behavioural science and its practical applications. The module seeks to:

- Develop comprehensive understanding of the key theories, concepts, and principles of applied behavioural science and their practical applications in a variety of organisational settings.
- Gain hands-on experience in applying behavioural science methods and techniques to design, implement, and evaluate interventions that are designed to improve organisational outcomes and performance.
- Develop the critical thinking and analytical skills required to interpret and draw insights from behavioural data, and make recommendations that enable the changing of individual and organisational behaviour.
- Understand the ethical and practical considerations involved in conducting behavioural research and interventions, and how these principles can be applied responsibly and effectively by organisations.
- Offer insights from experienced behavioural scientists and industry professionals.

Proposed aims:

The research objectives are focus on addressing four aims:

Develop Core Knowledge:
- Provide students with a solid foundation in key theories and concepts of applied behavioural science.
- Ensure students understand the principles and methodologies used in behavioural research.

Enhance Practical Skills:
- Train students in designing and implementing behavioural interventions and experiments.
- Develop students’ abilities to analyse data and interpret results using appropriate techniques and technologies.

Foster Research Competence:
- Prepare students to apply behavioural science approaches effectively, ethically, and responsibly.
- Enable students to utilise the Behaviour Lab for conducting their own research projects.

Promote Career Readiness:
- Equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary for careers in business, public policy, research, or consultancy within the behavioural sciences.

Learning activities:
To achieve these aims and objectives, the module incorporates a variety of learning activities:

Lectures:
- Provide foundational knowledge and introduce key theories and concepts.

Practicals:
- Facilitate hands-on learning through practical exercises and group activities.
- Encourage collaborative problem-solving and application of theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios.
- Allow students to engage directly with the Behaviour Lab’s resources and technology.
- Offer training in data analysis and interpretation using software and tools.
- Provide opportunities for students to practice designing interventions and running experiments.

By integrating these learning activities, the module ensures that students not only gain theoretical knowledge but also develop the practical skills and research competence necessary for success in the field of behavioural science.

Examples of indicative course content are:
- Key theories and findings in behavioural science (e.g., nudges and choice architecture, dual processes in thinking, heuristics and biases, motivation, habits, and the psychology of risk and decision-making).
- Key skills in experimental design and behavioural data analytics, that are used to design and test behavioural interventions in business and organisations.
- Examples of applied behavioural science concepts in real-world situations.
- In later workshops, students could design and participate in (simple) experiments designed by their peers, and then work to analyse their own (simple) datasets.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:

1. Critically evaluate behavioural science theories and research findings.
2. Design and undertake research that addresses a behavioural challenge in the contemporary workplace, using lab-based methods.
3. Interpret behavioural data to enable meaningful insights into human behaviour.
4. Develop solutions to elicit behavioural change in organizations.

Skills outcomes

On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:

5. Work Ready Skills: Enhanced problem-solving and analytical skills from evaluating the consequences and trade-offs of different research design decision points.
6. Academic Skills: Developed critical thinking by considering different approaches to the study of a research problem.
7. Digital Skills: Demonstrated literacy in handling information and datasets.
8. Technical Skills: Achieved proficiency in using software and technologies to design and host interventions and experiments.

Teaching Methods

Delivery type Number Length hours Student hours
Lecture 10 1 10
Practical 6 2 12
Private study hours 78
Total Contact hours 22
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) 100

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

This module is built around providing students with regular opportunities for formative feedback in practicals, ensuring continuous support and guidance to enhance students’ understanding and performance. Lab-based practicals will offer students the chance to receive regular tutor feedback and provide checkpoints to ensure learning is on track. Students will be afforded supervised opportunities to work on their coursework within the Behaviour Lab, with a tutor on hand to assist.

Methods of Assessment

Coursework
Assessment type Notes % of formal assessment
Coursework 2,500 word individual portfolio 100
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) 100

Resit will be 100% by 2,500 word individual portfolio.

Reading List

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/04/2025

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