Table of contents

The course is connected to the following study programs

Teaching language

English

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course the student should be able to:

  • demonstrate understanding of important normative, descriptive, and prescriptive models of judgment and decision making.
  • analyse normative, descriptive, and prescriptive models of judgment and inference, with reference to their use in practice.
  • identify and analyse processes of judgment, inference and choice within specific contexts and discuss the factors affecting the decision making.
  • recognize irrationality in oneself and others and propose ways of improving judgments and inferences.
  • understand how human behaviour is affected by design/choice architecture.
  • analyse and discuss ethical and moral aspects of decision making and interventions designed to change people’s behaviour.
  • design a plan for use of choice architecture that may contribute towards achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Contents

The objective of the course is to develop habits of thought and provide evidence-based tools which will lead to better decision making and support behaviour change. This is achieved by learning how to identify, anticipate, and mitigate common types of judgmental errors andto explain why they occure. . Drawing on research from judgment and decision making, behavioural economics, and psychology the course addresses three core questions: 1) how should we make decisions? (normative), 2) how do people actually make decisions? (descriptive), and 3) what can we do to improve our own and other people’s decision making? (prescriptive). Indicative topics include: probability judgments, heuristics and biases, utility measurement, choice under certainty and under uncertainty, judgments about the future, fairness and social preferences, moral judgments, motivational and affective influences on choice, choice architecture, behaviour change (including nudging), sludging (deliberate use of friction that impedes good choices), and libertarian paternalism.

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, class discussions, compulsory student assignments and presentations. Estimated workload is about 200 hours.

Examination requirements

Approved compulsory assignments and presentations. More information in Canvas at the start of the semester.

Examinations

3-hour individual written examination under supervision. Assessment expression: letter grade, A-F.

Student evaluation

The person responsible for the course, in consultation with the student representative, decides the method of evaluation and whether the courses will have a midterm- or end of term evaluation, see also the Quality System, section 4.1. Information about evaluation method for the course will be posted on Canvas.
Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Oct. 15, 2026 8:06:36 AM