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: jan.urban@czp.cuni.cz

Assistants: Veronika Anna Černá, email: 77160960@fsv.cuni.cz, Lukáš Stropnický, email: 95152810@fsv.cuni.cz

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

Identification of environmental problems
Identification of human-related drivers (behavior)
Assessment of the feasibility of behavioral change
Identification of most promising interventions
Identification of relevant literature on behavioral change
Pre-registration of an empirical study
Data collection and analysis
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: jan.urban@czp.cuni.cz, 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.