Behavioural Mechanisms in the Social Sciences, 7.5 credits

Beteendemekanismer i samhällsvetenskapen, 7.5 hp

771A14

Main field of study

Computational Social Science

Course level

Second cycle

Course type

Single subject and programme course

Examiner

Sarah Valdez

Course coordinator

Sarah Valdez

Director of studies or equivalent

Abiel Sebhatu

Available for exchange students

Yes

Contact

ECV = Elective / Compulsory / Voluntary
Course offered for Semester Weeks Language Campus ECV
Single subject course (Half-time, Day-time) Autumn 2021 202144-202203 English Norrköping, Norrköping
Single subject course (Half-time, Day-time) Autumn 2021 202144-202203 English Norrköping, Norrköping

Main field of study

Computational Social Science

Course level

Second cycle

Advancement level

A1N

Entry requirements

  • 180 ECTS credits passed including 90 ECTS credits within one of the following areas humanities, social-, cultural-, behavioural-, natural-, computer-, or engineering-sciences
  • English corresponding to the level of English in Swedish upper secondary education (Engelska 6)
    Exemption from Swedish

Intended learning outcomes

After completion of the course, the student should at an advanced level be able to:

  • formulate explanations of behavior based on the underlying cognitive mechanisms;
  • evaluate compatibilities and incompatibilities between various mechanistic explanations of behavior;
  • generalize specific behaviors into larger theoretical frameworks to explain social action;
  • draw from various theoretical approaches to hypothesize specific behaviors under various social conditions;
  • construct theoretical models that link micro-level behaviors to macro-level outcomes.

Course content

This course will explore a broad range of mechanisms to explain human behavior at the individual level. It covers rational choice explanations of action, heuristic decision-making, such as satisficing, and cognitive biases that influence behavior. The material is interdisciplinary and may draw from fields such as sociology, economics, psychology, and neuroscience. The focus is placed on the micro foundations of behavior, but presented within the context of linking the micro-actions of social actors to macro-social outcomes.

Teaching and working methods

The teaching consists of lectures, readings, and seminars. Homework and independent studies are a necessary complement to the course.
Language of instruction: English.

Examination

The course is examined through written assignments, active participation in seminars, and a written individual final assignment. Detailed information about the examination can be found in the course's study guide.

If the LiU coordinator for students with disabilities has granted a student the right to an adapted examination for a written examination in an examination hall, the student has the right to it. If the coordinator has instead recommended for the student an adapted examination or alternative form of examination, the examiner may grant this if the examiner assesses that it is possible, based on consideration of the course objectives.

Students failing an exam covering either the entire course or part of the course twice are entitled to have a new examiner appointed for the reexamination.

Students who have passed an examination may not retake it in order to improve their grades.

Grades

ECTS, EC

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is carried out in such a way that both men´s and women´s experience and knowledge is made visible and developed.

Department

Institutionen för ekonomisk och industriell utveckling
Code Name Scope Grading scale
ESS3 Essay 5 credits EC
OPP1 Opponentship 2.5 credits EC
There is no course literature available for this course in studieinfo.

This tab contains public material from the course room in Lisam. The information published here is not legally binding, such material can be found under the other tabs on this page.

There are no files available for this course.