Behavior Change Strategies for Sustainability
ENVR-40006
Behavior Change Strategies for Sustainability
This course focuses on the strategies and tools needed to change individual behavior and promote environmental protection. Students will learn how to assess needs, identify available resources, and design and evaluate a program for a behavior change intervention. Topics include identifying problems stemming from conventional behaviors; identifying market obstacles to behavior change; evaluating conventional practices (behavioral mapping); developing interventions to promote desired behaviors (best practices); designing a pilot program; and defining metrics for evaluating performance. Students will explore common strategies to promote behavior change, including community-based social marketing and other conceptual frameworks. Upon completion of this course, students will have the basic knowledge to design or redesign a behavioral change program, and to assess performance following implementation.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify and prioritize target behaviors related to a specific environmental problem
- Describe and segment a target audience
- Appropriately apply a range of behavior change tools and strategies
- Understand methods for pilot testing strategies
- Identify appropriate metrics for evaluating performance
- Develop a behavior change program implementation plan
Course Information
Course sessions
Section ID:
Class type:
This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.
Textbooks:
No textbook required.
Policies:
- No refunds after: 1/27/2025
Schedule:
Instructor:
Jennifer Tabanico, M.A.
Jennifer Tabanico is president and cofounder of Action Research, a firm that specializes in changing behavior for the public good by applying marketing and social science research to outreach programs that promote clean, healthy and sustainable communities. Tabanico has a master's degree in experimental psychology from Cal State San Marcos and more than a decade of experience developing and implementing community-based social marketing programs for public and private agencies nationwide.
Tabanico is a recognized leader in community-based social marketing. Her work in this has spanned a broad range of social issues including hazardous waste management, pollution prevention, transportation, energy-efficiency, water conservation and public safety.
Tabanico’s work in the areas of community-based social marketing, environmental attitudes and behavior change has been published in a variety of technical and academic outlets including the Journal of Environmental Psychology, Social Influence, BioCycle magazine, Criminology and the Handbook on Household Hazardous Waste. Her recent clients include the City and County of San Diego, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, the Maritime Aquarium and the American Forest Foundation.
Section ID:
Class type:
This course is entirely web-based and to be completed asynchronously between the published course start and end dates. Synchronous attendance is NOT required.
You will have access to your online course on the published start date OR 1 business day after your enrollment is confirmed if you enroll on or after the published start date.
Textbooks:
All course materials are included unless otherwise stated.
Policies:
Schedule:
Instructor:
Jennifer Tabanico, M.A.
Jennifer Tabanico is president and cofounder of Action Research, a firm that specializes in changing behavior for the public good by applying marketing and social science research to outreach programs that promote clean, healthy and sustainable communities. Tabanico has a master's degree in experimental psychology from Cal State San Marcos and more than a decade of experience developing and implementing community-based social marketing programs for public and private agencies nationwide.
Tabanico is a recognized leader in community-based social marketing. Her work in this has spanned a broad range of social issues including hazardous waste management, pollution prevention, transportation, energy-efficiency, water conservation and public safety.
Tabanico’s work in the areas of community-based social marketing, environmental attitudes and behavior change has been published in a variety of technical and academic outlets including the Journal of Environmental Psychology, Social Influence, BioCycle magazine, Criminology and the Handbook on Household Hazardous Waste. Her recent clients include the City and County of San Diego, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the Urban Sustainability Directors Network, the Maritime Aquarium and the American Forest Foundation.
