Psychology of Decision Making
01:830:534:01
Fall 2011
Gretchen Chapman
E-mail: gbc (at) rci (dot) rutgers
(dot) edu
Office: Psychology Building
room 215, Busch Campus
Office Hours: Mondays 10:00-11:00am and by appointment
Phone: (848) 445-2640
Fax: (732) 445-2263
Class time and location
Rutgers
Fall 2011 semester
Wed 8:30 - 11:00 am
Course Description: How
are decisions actually made and how do these processes differ from the best or
optimal methods for decision making? This course will contrast normative and
descriptive theories of reasoning, judgment, and decision making. We will
explore judgments of risk and uncertainty, including research on calibration,
hypothesis testing, and heuristics and biases. An analysis of decision making
will include a comparison of expected utility theory with the psychological
model Prospect Theory. Other topics include preference reversals, affect and
decision making, self control, game theory, and moral decisions. Many of the
examples and applications will come from health and medicine; other areas of
application include business, law, and public policy.
2011 Syllabus
Course readings will be posted on sakai.rutgers.edu