Behavioural Science (11240.1)

This multidisciplinary subject unit uses insights from economics, psychology and policy research to study human behaviour and decisions under various contexts with particular emphasis on heuristics, beliefs, biases, risk and uncertainty, perceptions of fairness, happiness, and the effectiveness of conducting policy by 'nudging'.

Learning outcomes

After successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Apply specialised economic and psychology concepts to identify, understand, and analyse behavioural issues; such as habit-formation, cognitive illusions, heuristics and biases;
2. Identify problematic patterns of behaviour, how they relate to standard economics assumptions and how to formulate policy responses;
3. Demonstrate an effective understanding of the experimental method in economics and psychology; and
4. Reflect upon their unit experience, including theories, discussions and feedback, and how it relates to the goals set out in their professional portfolio.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
2. UC graduates are global citizens - communicate effectively in diverse cultural and social settings
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - be self-aware
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development

Prerequisites

11175 Introduction to Economics.

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

10084 Behavioural Economics.

Assumed knowledge

None.