PSY3052 : The Science behind our choices: decision-making across species and societies
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Francesca De Petrillo
- Lecturer: Professor Melissa Bateson
- Other Staff: Dr Billie Moffat-Knox
- Owning School: Psychology
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
The module will focus on establishing foundational knowledge of decision-making across primate species and human societies by using an interdisciplinary approach. The module will: integrate economic, psychological, neurobiological, and evolutionary approaches to understanding how humans make choices; examine the mechanisms shaping various facets of decision-making; and examine the evolutionary function of these processes; assess the real-world consequences of decision-making in terms of wealth, health, and well-being. In doing so, this module aims to develop students’ knowledge and understanding of human decision-making and their ability to apply an interdisciplinary approach to new problems.
Outline Of Syllabus
Humans face a myriad of choices every day, from simple decisions about what to eat for lunch or how much time to spend on leisure versus work, to more complex decisions like selecting between competitive job offers or deciding whether or not to get married. How do we make these choices? This module will provide an overview of the principles and theories of human decision-making; the current state of the research of decision-making; and the evolution of human decision-making, including how other species make complex decisions.
Topics will include:
- Decision-making: why is important and how it is studied
- Principles of rational decision making- the concept of rationality in economics, psychology, and biology
- Choice biases and heuristics
- Decision-making variation across individuals: the effect of age, gender, personality, and individual states
- Emotions and decision-making
- Cultural variation in decision-making across human societies
- The evolutionary origins of human biases and decision-making
Throughout the module research from different disciplines will be explored.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 46:00 | 46:00 | Reading and writing for assessment |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 8 | 1:00 | 8:00 | Present in person or online |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | Synchronous online guest lectures |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 24:00 | 24:00 | Preparation for lectures |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | Academic skills activities |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | Discussion of general issues for assessments |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The intended knowledge outcomes will be met primarily through lecture content and associated set reading. Students will then be asked to apply their knowledge to an aspect of decision-making of their choice, to create a coherent integrative presentation of how this decision aspect has evolved, as well as how it varies – or not – across human societies. Before the presentation, they will also be asked to create an abstract of their presentation. This will allow them to apply evolutionary thinking and a cross-cultural perspective to decision-making. It will also allow them to synthesize empirical research from different disciplines and to practice their communication skills.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral Presentation | 10 | 1 | M | 80 | Individual presentation discussing one aspect of decision-making in different cultures and species (Present in person). Length 10min |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 1 | M | 20 | A 200-word abstract that summarizes their presentation |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 1 | M | Student will prepare an Annotated Bibliography laying out the papers they will use in their presentations |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The formative assessment and feedback are aimed at giving students the opportunity to practice the skills necessary to search, select and use literatures relevant for the assessment.
The in-course abstract assessment is aimed at practicing the ability to synthesize and explain concisely empirical research. Then, the individual presentation is aimed at developing oral presentation skills. For both assessments, students will be expected to demonstrate the ability to integrate cross-cultural and comparative literature to discuss how a specific aspect of human economic decision-making have evolved and vary across human societies.
FMS Schools offering Semester One modules available as ‘Study Abroad’ will, where required, provide an alternative assessment time for examinations that take place after the Winter vacation. Coursework with submission dates after the Winter vacation will either be submitted at an earlier date or at the same time remotely. The assessment format will not normally vary from the original to ensure learning outcomes are met. Any changes to the original format must meet module learning outcomes and be approved by the school.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- PSY3052's Timetable