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1L MSIN0014

Welcome to
BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE

What is behavioural science?

Anna Dziubinska

Using the scientific method to the study of human behaviour

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Why study behavioural science?

✅ We will build on other modules (e.g., Art & Sci of Management)
AND set you up for future modules (e.g., ManSci Dissertation)

✅ Employers want people who understand people

✅ Behavioural science unlocks your ability to lead

✅ It’s useful in your day-to-day life as well!

Course outline
Thinking Like a
Behavioural Scien3st

Understanding
Individual Behaviour

Understanding Group
Behaviour

Leading as a
Behavioural Scientist

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Course outline

Brooke Lark

Course goals
How do groups change
How do people behave people’s behaviour?
as individuals?

How is behavioural How can behavioural

science conducted? science help us lead?

Put a name to common Understand yourself

social phenomena better
Improve your
Apply abstract concepts communication skills
to the real world Get comfortable sharing
Identify key information your perspective Achieve varied goals on
in complex scenarios different timelines
ani rofiqah

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Attendance and participation

Attendance is a top predictor of performance!

Seminars are just as important as lectures

Being able to share your thoughts publicly is an

essential skill

Yan Krukau
You will have opportunities to practice and prepare

One exception: If you’re unwell, please stay home!

Crede, Roch, & Kieszczynka, 2010

Readings and slides

Readings are important, but can’t
replace attendance to lectures and
seminars

Figure out the best note-taking strategy

for you (slides may not always be best!)

Ivan Samkov

Allen et al., 2020; Urry et al., 2021

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Assessment
Individual Case Analysis – 1000 words, 20% of total grade
Due January 31 at 10:00 am

Group Case Analysis – 2000 words, 20% of total grade

Due February 28 at 10:00 am

Individual Research Proposal – 2000 words, 60% of total grade

Due March 13 at 10:00 am

Assessment
Open-ended writing

There is no single right response, there are many possible

good responses

Completeness of assignment and quality of arguments matter

Read and re-read the coursework briefs!

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Assessment
Tips for writing

Think about your audience, what do they know/not know?

Set your scope clearly, you can’t write about everything!

Focus and streamline wherever possible!

Give yourself time to revise, revise, revise!

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AI policy and academic integrity

“Assistive” policy across all assignments

❌ “Here is my coursework brief, write it!”

👍 “What’s a clearer way of saying “[your

sentence]?”, then put it in your own words!

UCL takes academic integrity VERY seriously

cottonbro studio

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Good news!
You are already a behavioural
scientist!

This is an opportunity to
become a better one

Diane Serik

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More good news!

This module is taught by a
professional behavioural scientist

Previously taught at UCLA

Anderson and NYU Stern

Over a decade of behavioural

research with papers in top
psychology and management
journals
Alfred Essa; Ajay Suresh; Mark Gilbert

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Finding support
If you have any questions or concerns,
please don’t hesitate to email me

Office hours are by appointment, just send

me an email

UCL offers students a variety of support

systems, please don’t hesitate to use

youssef naddam

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Any questions?

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Why study behaviour?

Dnn87

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Thought exercise: Batteries

Manager A Manager B Outcome

Sustainable

😬
Dnn87 danilo.alvesd

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The Tragedy of the Commons

Individual consumption of shared resources without attention to
collective costs will lead to the depletion of these resources

We’ve known about the tragedy of the commons for a long time

What examples can you think of?

Hardin, 1968; Lloyd, 1833

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Thought exercise: Batteries Pt. 2

Ron Lach

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The Fundamental Attribution Error

When trying to explain behaviour, we can look for reasons tied to a
person’s characteristics vs. reasons tied to the situation

When evaluating others, people tend to over-emphasize other’s

personal characteristics and under-emphasize their situation

We’ve known about the fundamental attribution error for a long time

What examples can you think of?

Harvey et al., 1981; Ross, 1977; Ross, 2018

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But… what if we’re wrong?

⁉ Garrett Hardin, who popularized the Tragedy of the Commons,
was a eugenicist

✅ People are generally good at coordinating and cooperating

⁉ Lee Ross who first identified the FAE changed his mind

✅ The “true” error, to Ross, is the more general illusion of personal

objectivity
Mildenberger, 2019; Ross, 2018

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Thought exercise: Batteries Pt. 3

Karolina Grabowska

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Solving complex problems

Understanding the causes of
problems sheds light on solutions

A scientific approach helps us

understand which solutions work
best

Even then, we’re often wrong…

Ryoji Iwata

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Looking ahead
Next seminar – Being Wrong

Read “Why Being Wrong Feels So Right (And What You Can Do
About It)”

Prepare to talk about a time when you were wrong

Next lecture – Thinking Like a Behavioural Scientist

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