88-302 Behavioral Decision Making
9 units, Carnegie Mellon University
Behavioral decision making begins with a simple observation: people are neither perfectly rational nor hopelessly irrational. Every day we decide what to believe, whom to trust, how much risk to take, and what is fair. Whether interpreting a medical test, negotiating a salary, investing for retirement, or judging the credibility of a news story, our judgments are shaped by cognitive shortcuts, emotions, social influences, and the environments in which decisions are made. This course explores the scientific study of human judgment and choice through influential and contemporary research spanning psychology, economics, and related disciplines. Students engage with current research from both scholarly publications and popular media, including podcasts and news articles, while actively evaluating evidence, discussing competing explanations, and applying decision science to real-world problems. Along the way, they learn how researchers formulate questions, design studies, and develop evidence-based approaches to improving decisions for individuals, organizations, and society.
Prerequisites: (36-200 or 36-201 or 36-207 or 36-211 or 70-207 or 36-220 or 36-225 or 36-247 or 36-217) and 88-120
Offered: Spring 2027, Fall 2026, Spring 2026, Fall 2025
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