MKTG 3100
Analysis of Consumer Behavior

COURSE NAVIGATION

Syllabus

Weekly Schedule

Chapter Lessons

Examinations

CB Journal

Instructor Office

WSU Online

SYLLABUS

Office Hours
My office hours will be held in my office in the Wattis Building, room 242.  I will be available for consultation from 1:00 to 3:00 on Mondays and from 11:00 to 2:00 on Thursdays.  I am also available by appointment.

Course Description

"The application of psychological, sociological, and anthropological findings to the purchase and consumption of goods and services by ultimate and industrial consumers."

Consumer Behavior, Ninth EditionRequired Textbook

Your textbook for this course is Consumer Behavior: Buying, Having and Being  by Michael Solomon, 9th edition.  It is available from the WSU Bookstore and from a variety of online booksellers.  Textbooks purchased from the WSU Bookstore are exempt from Utah sales tax. 

NOTE: If you are having trouble getting a copy of the 9th edition of this book, you may use the 8th edition for this class.  The books are nearly identical in content, although the chapter numbering is somewhat different.

Overall Course Objectives

Although this class is taught in the business school, it is in many ways a class in applied behavioral science. We will be studying concepts, principles, and theories from the fields of psychology, sociology, and anthropology as they relate to our behavior as consumers. An understanding of consumer behavior is the foundation for developing effective marketing strategies. These concepts are equally important for others with an interest in consumers, such as policymakers, regulators, and consumer advocates.

This course will provide a solid theoretical and conceptual foundation for your other marketing classes. We will also examine ethical and public policy issues as we study the "darker side" of consumer behavior. Since we will spend quite a lot of time looking at issues from a behavioral science perspective, you may find that this class is quite different from the other business classes that you have taken.

You and I have all been consumers in one way or another throughout our lives. As we move through this course together, we will have a chance to consider the ways in which various concepts, principles, and theories apply to our own experience as consumers. I hope you will enjoy doing some field research, reflecting upon your personal experience and talking with your classmates about their perspectives. We will have a number of research and reflection exercises to aid you in this pursuit.

Course Requirements

If you taking this class through WSU Independent Study, you have 6 months from your date of enrollment to finish the course.

For those taking this class during a regular university term, this class is designed to be completed during that semester.   The class is essentially self-paced, although I will nag you at regular intervals to encourage you to stay on track.  You will take the three course exams through the ChiTester computerized testing system which provides some flexibility on when and where you take the exams.  Please plan accordingly so as not to fall behind.

The course requirements include the following:

1. Chapter Lessons with Interactive Problem Sets

These lessons include 34 quizzes associated with the topics in the textbook.  Each of these quizzes will be scored by the computer while you wait.  If you wish, you may e-mail the results of your quizzes to me at bdavis@weber.edu   The scores will not count directly in your course grade, but they will help you in preparing for the course exams.  The exam questions will be very similar to those found in the concept quizzes.

2. Twenty Consumer Behavior Journal Assignments

These assignments  relate to personal reflection and, in some cases, brief field research.  These exercises have been designed to connect the concepts, theories, and principles we are studying to your "real-world" consumption experience.

As you finish the class, you should compile these into one e-mail to me by copying and pasting the journal text into the body of an e-mail to me through the Blackboard e-mail system associated with this course. This component of the course will be worth 25% of your final grade.

3. Three Examinations

Three examinations are required.  Each will count for 25% of your final grade.

For those using the 9th edition of the textbook, the first exam will cover material from Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.  The second exam will cover Chapters 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10.  The third  exam will cover material from Chapters 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16.

For those using the 8th edition of the textbook, the first exam will cover material from Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.  The second exam will cover Chapters 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11.  The third  exam will cover material from Chapters 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17.

Each exam will consist of 50 questions.  The computer-graded concept quizzes in each lesson will be a valuable tool in helping you to master the concepts in this course and prepare for the exams.  Approximately half of the exam questions will be drawn directly from the chapter quizzes.

As a student, I always wanted to know how well I did on an exam as soon as possible.  By using the ChiTester system, you will be able to learn your score immediately after submitting your exam and can review the questions that you missed at that time. 

PLEASE NOTE: You are not permitted to work with others to convey or receive specific information about the questions on the exam. to work with others to convey or receive specific information about the questions on the exam.  The penalty for academic dishonesty in this class will be a failing grade.  Additional penalties may be imposed in accordance with university policy.

Summary of Grading Criteria:

Unit Exam #1       25%
Unit Exam #2       25%
Unit Exam #3       25%
CB Journal          25%

 This class is designed to allow you to work at your own pace. However, all of the coursework and exams must be completed by the end of this semester on Monday April 16th.  Here are some suggested dates:

Saturday Feb 4th       Exam 1
Saturday March 10th  Exam 2
Monday April 16th      Exam 3 and Submit Consumer Behavior Journal

All of the exams are available now on ChiTester and may be taken anytime. You may submit your CB Journal whenever you have finished all twenty assignments.
 

Grading Policy

Grading will be based on the standard university grading policy: 
A  = 93.0 - 100%           C   = 73.0 - 76.9%   
A- = 90.0 - 92.9%          C-  = 70.0 - 72.9%   
B+ = 87.0 - 89.9%         D+ = 67.0 - 69.9% 
B   = 83.0 - 86.9%         D   = 63.0 - 66.9% 
B-  = 80.0 - 82.9%         D-  = 60.0 - 62.9%
C+ = 77.0 - 79.9%         E   =  below 60.0%    

 

Any student requiring accommodations or services due to a disability should contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) in room 181 of the Student Service Center. SSD can arrange to provide course materials (including this syllabus) in alternative formats if necessary.

 
Navigating WSU Online

Please visit the WSU Online Student Orientation website to learn more about navigating your way through this course.

You can access the various parts of the course through the WSU Online Home Page or by clicking on the navigation links on the left side of this page.
 
Swine Flu

Special Note on H1N1 Flu:
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Utah Public Health Department are anticipating a resurgence of the H1N1 flu this year. This could result in significant disruption to normal on-campus (and online) classes.
 
I would like to reinforce the following guidelines for this class:
 
If you are ill, stay home. If you become ill (fever, chills, cough) while at school, go home. Exposing others to the virus can potentially result in serious complications and even death in high-risk individuals. See the WSU website at http://weber.edu/flu for specific recommendations.
 

Students With Disabilities

 

Any student requiring accommodations or services due to a disability must contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) in room 181 of the Student Service Center. SSD can arrange to provide course materials in alternative formats if necessary.  

 

If you have a disability that will require special arrangements of any kind, please send me an e-mail at bdavis@weber.edu and contact the Services for Students with Disabilities office directly. 
 
Taking the Examinations

All examinations for this course will be administered using the ChiTester software in one of the WSU Testing Centers.

If you live outside of a 50 mile radius of Weber State University, you may take your test through a remote site proctor. For instructions on how to take a test through a remote site proctor, follow this link to Online Testing.

 

John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics Honor Code             

The John B. Goddard School of Business & Economics (Goddard School) recognizes students as adults pursuing their education.  The Goddard School Honor Code seeks to contribute to the development of appropriate individual and group behavior, and encourages responsible citizenship within the University community.   The administration of honor code policies will be conducted in a manner that will foster the ethical development and personal integrity of students and promote an environment that is in accord with the overall educational mission of the Goddard School and Weber State University.  

Students are expected to maintain academic ethics and honesty. Prohibited activities include but are not limited to the following:

a. Cheating, which includes:

i)              Copying from another student's test;  

ii)             Using materials during a test not authorized by the person giving the test;  

iii)            Collaborating with any other person during a test without authorization;  

iv)           Knowingly obtaining, using, buying, selling, transporting, or soliciting in whole or in part the contents of any test without authorization of the appropriate University official 

v)            Bribing any other person to obtain any test;  

vi)           Soliciting or receiving unauthorized information about any test;  

vii)          Substituting for another student or permitting any other person to substitute for oneself to take a test.  

b. Plagiarism, which is the unacknowledged (uncited) use of any other person’s or group’s ideas or work. This includes purchased or borrowed papers;  

c. Collusion, which is the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing work offered for credit;  

d. Falsification, which is the intentional and unauthorized altering or inventing of any information or citation in an academic exercise, activity, or record-keeping process;  

e. Giving, selling, or receiving unauthorized course or test information;  

f. Using any unauthorized resource or aid in the preparation or completion of any course work, exercise, or activity.

Academic Integrity Policy  

 

As a student, I always wanted to know how well I did on an exam as soon as possible.  By using the ChiTester system, you will be able to learn your score immediately after submitting your exam and can review the questions that you missed at that time.  You are not permitted to convey or receive specific information about the content of the exam.   See Section IV, Part D of the WSU Student Code on the class web site.  All written work submitted should be that of the student whose name appears on the paper.  Proper citations and quotation marks should be used to indicate the work and words of others.  The penalty for academic dishonesty in this class will be a failing grade.  Additional penalties may be imposed in accordance with university policy. 

 
Contacting Me

The best way to reach me is through e-mail.  My e-mail address is bdavis@weber.edu.  You may call me anytime on my cell phone anytime at 801-721-1138. 

Please contact me if you have any questions about this course or need advice regarding selecting a major, planning your career, or being a successful student. 

I look forward to working with you this semester!