Not available in 2023/24
PB415      Half Unit
Behavioural Science

This information is for the 2023/24 session.

Teacher responsible

Prof Paul Dolan QUE.3.08

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in Environmental Economics and Climate Change, MSc in Organisational and Social Psychology, MSc in Psychology of Economic Life, MSc in Social and Cultural Psychology and MSc in Social and Public Communication. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations and room sizes permit.

This is a capped course.  In teaching Week 1 places will be allocated to students from the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science on a first come first served basis.  At the start of Week 2 any remaining places will be allocated to students from other departments, again on a first come first served basis.

Course content

This course aims to introduce students to the main concepts and tools of behavioural science. To achieve this aim, the course is based around ten lectures covering: 1) what is behavioural science?; 2) choices under risk and uncertainty; 3) intertemporal decisions; 4) social and moral preferences; 5) biases and heuristics and rules of thumb; 6) the role of emotions in decision making; 7) dual-process models of behaviour; 8) the power of nudges; 9) compensating behaviours; 10) ethical considerations.

Teaching

10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of seminars in the AT.

There are ten topics, and the seminars allow for in depth discussion and analysis of the issues raised in the lectures.

Formative coursework

Students will be expected to produce 1 essay (1000 words) in the MT.

Indicative reading

Rabin, M. (1998). Psychology and Economics. Journal of Economic Literature, 36, 11-46.

Weber, E.U., and Johnson, E.J. (2009). Mindful judgment and decision making. Annual Review of Psychology, 60, 53-85.

Loewenstein, G., Weber, E.U., Hsee, C.K., and Welch, N. (2001). Risk as feelings. Psychological Bulletin, 127, 267-286.

Dolan P, Hallsworth M, Halpern D, King D, Metcalfe R, Vlaev I, Influencing behaviour: the mindspace way, Journal of Economic Psychology, 33, 1, 264-277, 2012.

Thaler, R. and Sunstein, C. (2003) Libertarian paternalism, American Economic Review, 93, 2, 175-179.

Assessment

Essay (100%, 2500 words) in the WT.

Key facts

Department: Psychological and Behavioural Science

Total students 2022/23: Unavailable

Average class size 2022/23: Unavailable

Controlled access 2022/23: No

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.