Behavioral Science and Social Change
Our society is beset by major problems that are primarily behavioral, not technical, in nature, ranging from political divisiveness, to inadequate attention to climate change, to failure to comply with public health advice, to massive student disengagement and academic underperformance that threatens the future of the global economy. Over the last two decades, the social and behavioral sciences--e.g. psychology, economics, sociology--have transformed the way that policymakers and practitioners think about how to solve the most pressing challenges facing society. This class will involve a hands-on and deep dive into two major traditions of research--the "wise intervention" research, coming out of social psychology, and the "nudge" tradition, coming out of behavioral economics. Students will read and discuss authoritative reviews and original empirical articles and will discuss the practical, philosophical, and ethical questions that arise from the application of behavioral science in the real world. Students will create intervention materials in teams, supported by TAs, and will present their intervention ideas as final projects.
Required Texts:
Nudge, Thaler & Sunstein, https://www.amazon.com/Nudge-Improving-Decisions-Health-Happiness/dp/014311526X
Handbook of Wise Interventions, https://www.guilford.com/books/Handbook-of-Wise-Interventions/Walton-Crum/9781462543830/editors