Module: Innovation, Disruption and Sustainability

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Innovation, Disruption and Sustainability
Module Code	PSY1105 (ITS: PSYC312)
Faculty	Psychology	School	Science & Health
NFQ level		Credit Rating	5

Description

Despite knowledge of the need for change, international agreements and targets to combat climate change, impacts are not being seen. This module explores sustainability and sustainable behaviour in the context of innovation and technology. The main aims are to understand the critical importance of 1)climate change and sustainability, 2) of innovating and designing for sustainability 3) of increasing knowledge and awareness of sustainability as well as 4) key drivers and facilitators of sustainable behaviour. This will be done through the back drop of innovation in psychology and technological sciences using case studies and practical learning activities.

Learning Outcomes

1. Critically understand the key challenges of sustainability, sustainable transitions, and innovation and design for sustainability
2. Critically consider the role of policy, public bodies, industry, NGOs and civil society in increasing sustainability
3. Identify and analyse key factors influencing both knowledge of sustainability and sustainable behaviours
4. Plan and appraise a sustainable development/design project

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	22	Lecture Based on indicative content and learning outcomes
Seminars	11	Post Lecture (Synchronous) Moderator and student-led tutorials
Assignment Completion	8	Group Based Engagement for multidisciplinary project
Independent Study	84	Self directed learning
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	11871	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Ada Nicke	Module Teacher	Emma Delemere, Lorraine Boran

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Group assignment	Group Oral pitch based on group project. Project will focus on evidence-based design of a sustainable development intervention for a specified population on a sustainability target.	40%	n/a
Report(s)	Each student must submit an individual report presenting an evidence based design of a sustainable development intervention for a specified population on a sustainability target, based on the intervention developed within the group.	60%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Climate change, sustainability and sustainable transitions.

Sustainability at the individual, community, organisational, national and international level.
Specifically, the role of national and EU policy (e.g., the Green Deal), public bodies, industry, NGOs and civil society in increasing sustainability

Behaviour change and sustainability
The mismatch been attitudes and behaviour; social-ecological systems and traps; planning and decision-making for sustainability; disruptive technology, behaviour and sustainability

Innovations in and technology for sustainable development; facilitators of adoption of these at individual and societal

Design, implementation and assessment: Using technology at all stages of the behaviour change process.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Jones, R. G: 2020, The Applied Psychology of Sustainability., Routledge.,
Robert D. Zettle,Steven C. Hayes,Dermot Barnes-Holmes,Anthony Biglan: 2016, The Wiley Handbook of Contextual Behavioral Science, John Wiley & Sons, 564, 9781118489567
Stephen Wendel: 2020, Designing for Behavior Change, O'Reilly Media, 200, 9781492056034
KÃ¶nig, A., & Ravetz, J. (Eds.).: 2017, Sustainability science: Key issues., Routledge.,
Gifford, R: 2016, Research methods for environmental psychology., John Wiley & Sons,
KlÃ¶ckner, C. A.: 2015, The psychology of pro-environmental communication: beyond standard information strategies., Springer.,
Scott, B. A., Amel, E. L., Koger, S. M., & Manning, C. M.: 2021, Psychology for sustainability., Routledge.,

Articles:

Wilson, C., Tyfield, D.: 2018, Critical perspectives on disruptive innovation and energy transformation, Energy Research & Social Science, Volume 37, 512568
2021: Moving beyond disruptive innovation: A review of disruption in sustainability transitions., Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions,, 38, 110, 512569, 1
Cascading climate change impacts and implications: Climate Risk Management, Volume 29, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2020.100234, 512570, 2, Fiksel, J.
Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy: vol 2, issue 2, doi: 10.1080/15487733.2006.11907980, 512571, 2, Borden, R. J., 2017
25: 45, 512572, 2, Evans, D., Welch, D., & Swaffield, J., 2017, Constructing and mobilizing ‘the consumer’: Responsibility, consumption and the politics of sustainability.
1396: 512573, 2, Hedin, B., Katzeff, C., Eriksson, E., & Pargman, D., 2019, A systematic review of digital behaviour change interventions for more sustainable food consumption., Sustainability

Other Resources

None