Sustainable Societies: How social science helps to solve environmental problems - JSB729

• Title: Sustainable Societies: How social science helps to solve environmental problems
• Guaranteed by: Department of Sociology (23-KS)
• Faculty: Faculty of Social Sciences
• Actual: from 2023
• Semester: winter
• E-Credits: 7
• Examination process: winter s.:
• Hours per week, examination: winter s.:0/2, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: unknown / unlimited (unknown)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Note: course can be enrolled in outside the study plan; enabled for web enrollment
• Guarantor: Mgr. Jan Urban, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): Mgr. Jan Urban, Ph.D.
• Class: Courses for incoming students

Annotation

Last update: Mgr. Jan Urban, Ph.D. (05.10.2022)

Sustainable Societies: How social science helps to solve environmental problems

Instructor: Jan Urban ([e-mail])

Annotation:
This course (i) introduces participants to current theories of environmental problems in
social sciences and (ii) demonstrates how such theories can be practically used to
understand and solve pressing environmental problems. The course combines the reading of
recent scientific articles and book chapters with participation in quantitative research that will
take place over the semester. The goal of this research will be to demonstrate how social
scientific theories can be used to understand and alleviate environmental problems. We
assume that participants are interested in environmental problems and have elementary
(undergraduate-level) notion of quantitative research. We expect that participants are willing
to challenge themselves as well as instructors through discussions and inputs throughout the
research process.
1) The course focuses on understanding and use of selected research methods applied
in environmental and transport psychology to analyze the relationship between
physical environment and human behavior. The main goal of the course is to provide
students with instruments to analyze social-science concepts such as attitudes,
motivations or preferences related to environmental topics. We expect students to
gain relevant knowledge and ability to be able to design their own research, use
research methods properly, conduct statistical analysis, and correctly interpret
obtained results.
2) Students participate in a real research project, proposed by a small team of
researchers. Students ideally participate in all steps of the entire research process,
i.e. literature research, design of measures, data collection, data analysis in language
R and interpretation of the results. The main teaching method in the course is
“learning by trying”.

Syllabus

Last update: Mgr. Jan Urban, Ph.D. (04.10.2023)

Extended syllabus is available here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16TOcDNHDKXIIUvotGppCC_4hTzhBH61aW7wb3PYRYzQ/edit?usp=sharing

 

Sustainable Societies (22aJSB729x01), Fall 2023-2024

 

Note: this is a live document and will be updated periodically

Last update: October 4, 2023

 

Room: Jinonice, room C123, Tuesday, 14:00-15,20

Instructor: Jan Urban, Ph.D., email: [e-mail]

Assistants: Veronika Anna Černá, email: [e-mail], Lukáš Stropnický, email: [e-mail]

 

Course Objectives

1. Learn about important social theories of pro-environmental motivation and behavior.

2. Learn about theoretically-driven interventions that can leverage pro-environmental behavior. 

3. Prepare (and conduct) a replication of previous theory-driven behavioral intervention on pro-environmental behavior.

 

Course content

1. Lectures

2. Group research projects (in- and out-of-class activities)  

3. Individual activities (in- and out-of-class activities)

4. Tests

Critical steps in the research workflow that we will cover

1. Identification of environmental problems

2. Identification of human-related drivers (behavior)

3. Assessment of the feasibility of behavioral change

4. Identification of most promising interventions

5. Identification of relevant literature on behavioral change

6. Pre-registration of an empirical study

7. Data collection and analysis

8. Communication of results

 

Evaluation (0-100%)

20% individual activities

20% individual (in-class) tests

60% group research project x individual activity in the project (based on peer evaluation)

 

Grading

80-100: A

60-79: B

40-59: C

30-39: D

20-29: E

0 - 19: F

 

There will be no other evaluation (i.e., the “exam” grade = grade that you collect in the semester).

 

Shared Google Drive

Shared Google Drive is here: 

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ZEmOcKNI7lz1cW4T-UABbxjXnMJFWpwZ?usp=sharing

 

Slides from lectures

Slides from all lectures are here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1LbXkAu__OJHOvOf0Dt2yfhjgg1tM_qD1zLoTz_XeOig/edit?usp=sharing

 

Homework

There will be 4-6 individual homework assignments (e.g., readings and study questions to answer). Assignments will be listed in the schedule at the end of this syllabus.

 

Deadlines

If not stated otherwise, please do everything until Sunday (1 PM). Note that you’ll not be able to submit your work after the deadline.

 

Course attendance

Personal attendance is highly recommended. Not being present means that you’ll be losing points for in-class activities. But please stay at home if you do not feel well.

 

Tests

You will pass 2 tests during the semester. In exceptional cases (illness), you can pass a replacement test (at the end of the semester only). If you know that youl’ll be missing a test for an important reason (health issue), please send us a message. Put “sust soc” in the subject.

 

Contact

By email: [e-mail], subject: sust soc + {message content}”. If you do not get the answer in 3 days, please send a reminder. Response time may be longer during (Czech school) holidays.

 

Consultations

By appointment.

 

Frequently asked questions

1. I don't feel well. What should I do? => Please, send me a message and stay at home.

2. I am leaving before Christmas and do not plan to return. => The last session will take place in the first week of January 2024. You’ll be able to join us virtually.