The course covers how basic concepts from behavioural research in social psychology and judgment and decision making can shape policy formulation and implementation. Central themes include a detailed analysis of human judgment and decision making, and how a variety of motives and situational forces can affect people’s choices and behaviour. Combined, these topics have important implications for policy design that affects individuals as well as the functioning of the organizations that determine those policies. Lecture material is drawn from basic psychological research and from behaviourally-informed policy analysis. Students work with the instructor and each other to identify the relevance of this material for policy and management through discussion and a final paper.
This course is for 2nd year MIA, MPP and MDS students only.
Instructor
- Ruth Ditlmann , Professor of Psychology and Public Policy