Predictably Misbehaving

Lecture 0: Introduction to the Course

Joshua Foster at UW-Oshkosh

About Me

Joshua Foster, Ph.D.

  • Feel free to call me Josh.
  • I do research on Psychology and Economics.
  • Specialize in firm competition.

I am always happy to help!

  • Email me at fosterj@uwosh.edu.
  • Office Hours are Thursdays, 9:00-10:30AM.
  • Also available by appointment.

What is Behavioral Economics?

Behavioral economics is the study of how systematic errors in judgment impact economic outcomes.

In this course, we will consider:

  • How individuals evaluate comparisons and tradeoffs.
    • As consumers, employees, public officials, etc.
  • Policies that leverage psychological phenomena.
  • Ways to improve our communities with behavioral economics.

"What will I get out of this course if I truly dedicate myself to it?"

This course prepares a dedicated student to

  • Evaluate how they make decisions - and perhaps improve them.
  • Argue for (or against) a policy using economic reasoning.
  • Improve their communities and places of work through the understanding of cognitive limitations and behavioral biases.

Resources/schedule to help you succeed.

  1. Mondays: Virtual lectures on Canvas.
  2. Tuesdays: Readings from our text.
  3. Wednesdays: In-person lectures in Sage 1216.
  4. Thursdays: Office hours, as needed.
  5. By Appt: Econ Tutors

Assessments.

  1. Wednesdays: Homework due by 11:00PM.
  2. Fridays: Quiz administered on Canvas during classtime.
  3. Sporadically: Quest II activites.

This is a Quest II course (XS) in the USP.

Signature Question: How do people understand and engage in community life?

To answer this question, we will consider public policies that rely on behavioral tendencies to expand your civic knowledge in these areas.

The curriculum for Quest II courses is...intense.

In this course, there are many:

  • Learning objectives.
  • Supporting resources.
  • Learning-based activities.
    • Reference the syllabus for a review of these items.

Quest II Learning-based Activities for this Semester:

  1. Academic Open House (Outside Class)
  2. UWO Alumna Visit (Inside Class)
  3. Undergraduate Research Visit (Inside Class)
  4. Career Services Event (Inside & Outside Class)
  5. Celebration of Scholarship (Outside Class)

Expectations

You will be assessed on the following (% toward final grade):

  • Wednesday Homeworks (20% total)
  • Friday Assessments (70% total)
    • Your two lowest grades will be dropped and won't count toward your final grade.
  • Quest II Activities (10% total)

Final Grade

Your final numeric grade will be converted into a final letter grade according to the following rubric.

Numeric to Letter Grade Rubric

All Grades Rounded to the Nearest Integer1
Numeric Grade: 93-100 90-92 87-89 83-86 80-82 77-79 73-76 70-72 67-69 63-66 60-62 0-59
Letter Grade: A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F

1For example, if your final numeric grade is a 79.55 then it gets rounded to an 80, which gives you a final letter grade of B-. As another example, if your final numeric grade is 92.42 then it gets rounded to a 92, which gives you a final letter grade of A-.

This course requires

Early Alert

  • A progress notification system.
  • After Week 3 you’ll receive a "grade" of your performance.
  • You’ll receive this information via email.
  • This is not a permanent grade.
  • It does not appear on your transcript.

Students with Disabilities

Both the University and I are fully committed to providing you with the highest quality education, regardless of a disability.

If you have a disability that may require special accommodations:

  1. Speak with the Dean of Students Office in Dempsey 125.
  2. Speak with me privately after class.