J7SC 2M05 - Judgement and Decision making

Contemporary research has begun to help clarify a great deal about how we humans reason and make decisions. Blurring disciplinary boundaries, from psychology and neuroscience to economics, the research addresses questions like: What ultimately convinces us to make a decision, appeals to reason or emotion? How do others influence our decisions? And, most importantly, what can we do to make better decisions? By taking a close look at some of the most influential contemporary discoveries, this course aims to help students understand the current state of the art in research about judgment and decision-making. It will encourage students to come to their own opinions about these and similar other questions, while equipping them with analytic tools for use in their personal and professional lives.

None

The course will be conducted as a seminar with student presentations on readings

Students will be expected to contribute to in-class discussion, which will form the bulk of their grade. They will also develop and present a memo that applies the topics covered in class.

Students should expect to spend 2-4 hours each week preparing for class.