Translational Research on Decision Making

Catalog description

Translational Research on Decision Making is a 4000-level course focusing on basic foundations in translational research on decision making across the lifespan. The course will introduce students to the latest research and theory in this area and provide opportunities for hands-on applications of their learning in fields such as law, medicine, public health, behavioral economics, and policy. This course will cover such topics as human subjects protection, working with populations across the lifespan (e.g., children; adolescents; adults), database development, working with external partners and stakeholders (e.g., schools; hospitals), and basic concepts and techniques in decision making. Students in this course will participate in weekly class meetings together and in small groups focused on specific concepts, skills, and findings. During class meetings, we discuss research readings, critique research designs, learn about scientific methods, interpret empirical findings, and discuss alternative designs. Students work closely with each other but also work independently. Students will be provided with opportunities for hands-on application in real-world fields. Students attend a weekly class meeting, read pertinent papers from the primary literature, write reaction reports, integrate material across readings, and work cooperatively to understand and critique concepts, methods, analyses, and findings in the scientific literature.