PB450E Half Unit
Behavioural Science and Policy
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Prof Paul Dolan
Dr Alina Velias
Availability
This course is compulsory on the Executive MSc in Behavioural Science. This course is not available as an outside option to students on other programmes.
Course content
This course aims to introduce students to the main concepts and tools of the growing fields of behavioural science. The course covers the following topics: What is behavioural science?; What are preferences to economists and psychologists?; Dual-process models of behaviour and the role of the unconscious mind; Dual processing into policy using the MINDSPACE checklist; the role of emotions in decision making; compensating behaviours; breaking and creating habits. Students will develop an understanding of how people make decisions across a variety of contexts and the importance of understanding decisions for designing policy in both public and private organisations. We will cover canonical texts and ideas from behavioural science such as Kahneman & Tversky and Thaler & Sunstein, and we will also introduce students to cutting-edge research within behavioural science including recent work by our own faculty.
Teaching
12 hours of seminars and 9 hours of lectures in the Autumn Term.
Please note that the lectures will be a mixture of pre-recorded and live. The seminars will be delivered live.
Formative assessment
Students will be expected to produce 2 essays in the AT.
There will also be formative exercises in the seminars.
Indicative reading
Dolan, P. (2014). Happiness by design: finding pleasure and purpose in everyday life. London: Allen Lane.
Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking Fast and Slow. London: Penguin Books
Gneezy U, Meier S, Rey-Beil P (2011), “When and Why Incentives (Don’t) Work to Modify Behavior”, Journal of Economic Perspectives, 25(4):191-210.
DellaVigna, S. (2007). "Psychology and Economics: Evidence from the Field". NBER Working Paper No. 13420.
Dolan, P., Hallsworth, M., Halpern, D., King, D., Metcalfe, R., Vlaev, I. (2012). "Influencing Behaviour: The mindspace way". Journal of Economic Psychology, 33 (1): 264-277.
Dolan, P., Galizzi, M. (2015). "Like ripples on a pond: Behavioural spillovers and their implications for research and policy". Journal of Economic Psychology, 47: 1-16.
Assessment
Problem sets (100%)
Assessment will take place at the beginning of the second intensive teaching session in January
Key facts
Department: Psychological and Behavioural Science
Course Study Period: Autumn Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: Unavailable
Average class size 2024/25: Unavailable
Controlled access 2024/25: NoCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Leadership
- Self-management
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Application of information skills
- Communication
- Commercial awareness
- Specialist skills