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XX50224: Contemporary issues in the understanding of decision-making

[Page last updated: 02 August 2022]

Academic Year: 2022/23
Owning Department/School: Department of Psychology
Credits: 48 [equivalent to 96 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 960
Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Period:
Semester 2
Assessment Summary: CW85OR15
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Assessment detail data for this unit is currently being updated as a change has been approved. Updated assessment information will be published here shortly.
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites: Before taking this module you must ( take XX50221 AND take XX50222 )
Learning Outcomes: By the end of the unit, the students should be able:
* To develop an interdisciplinary perspective on how humans make, and how to predict, choices.
* To select and justify the focus, scope and methodology of a study in applied psychology and economic behaviour.
* To carry out independent research in human decision making.
* Critically review, employ and engage with the appropriate literature on the study area.
* Draw appropriate conclusions from the research study, being aware of its strengths and limitations.
* Effectively and efficiently, apply principles of psychology and economics.
* To present independent analysis, argument and/or application of theory in a coherent fashion.
* To develop critical, analytical problem-based learning skills.

Aims: This unit spans several topics, taught in an inter-disciplinary format by experts from the Department of Psychology and the Department of Economics. The unit covers issues at the cutting-edge of the field. The unit significant broadens the student's understanding of contemporary issues at the intersection between Psychology and Economics. Students will use an interdisciplinary perspective to develop novel applications, models or knowledge that advance the field.

Skills: Intellectual skills:
* To think creatively and analytically (TFA).
* To communicate an argument (TFA).
* To evaluate others arguments and research (TFA).
* To learn independently and to be able to assess own learning needs. (TFA).
* To critically evaluate and assess research and evidence as well as a variety of other information. (TFA).
* To gather information, data, research and literature from a number of different sources. (TFA).
* To synthesise information from a number of sources across multiple disciplines in order to gain a coherent understanding.
* To utilise problem solving skills. (TFA).
* To work independently. (TFA).
* To work as a team (TFA).
Professional and Personal skills:
* To effectively and efficiently apply principles of Psychology and Economics within a range of economic and business contexts.
Transferable skills:
* To be aware of ethical issues in carrying out research. (TFA).
* Inter-personal and communication skills. (TFA).
* Essay, research, preparation and writing skills. (TFA).
* Time management and administration skills. (F).
* Presentation skills and verbal communication. (TFA).
* Advanced information technology and computing technology (e.g. SPSS) (TF).
* To solve problems in a variety of situations. (F).
* To prioritise workloads.(F).
* Independent and group working skills (F).
* Advanced oral communication skills (F).
* Advanced numeracy skills (F).

Content: This unit provides students with the opportunity to further consolidate an interdisciplinary perspective at the intersection between Psychology and Economics. Students will work on two projects which will apply acquired knowledge from semesters 1 and 2 to address a knowledge gap and/or application. The unit affords each student the opportunity to deeply explore topics from an inter-disciplinary viewpoint. This unit encompasses both a taught component and a series of small-group tutorials in which students will obtain an enriched learning environment benefiting from more focused, small-group, tuition.
Topics include:
Applications of an interdisciplinary perspective to understanding contemporary knowledge gaps in economic behaviour, for example, attitudes to environment or financial decision-making.
* How to create enriched models designed to predict human decision-making, taking into account psychological variables
* The application of social psychology to multi-agent economic behaviour.
* Applications of neuroscience and psychophysiology to understanding human decision-making (Neuroeconomics).
* The impact of human psychological development on the decisions we make.
* Individual differences in decision-making.
* The impact of emotions on economic decision-making.
* Behaviour change as regards economic choice behaviour.

Programme availability:

XX50224 is a Designated Essential Unit on the following programmes:

Department of Psychology
  • THXX-AFM77 : MSc Applied Psychology and Economic Behaviour

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2022/23 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2023/24 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2022/23.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.