Center for Decision Research
Positioned at the forefront of behavioral science, the Center for Decision Research is devoted to the study of how individuals form judgments and make decisions. Researchers at the center examine the processes by which intuition, reasoning, and social interaction produce beliefs, judgments, and choices. Understanding how and why people make decisions has important applications in a range of contexts, including management, marketing, finance, and public policy.
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Register Now: Think Better with Laurie Santos
On October 26, Dr. Laurie Santos (Yale) will present her Think Better talk, "What Behavioral Science Can Teach Us About Happiness." This free hybrid event will be held in-person at the Rubenstein Forum and streamed via Zoom.
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Mindworks Featured on Fox 32's "Good Day Chicago"
On August 17, Fox 32's morning show broadcast live from Mindworks. Watch host Tim McGill and Mindworks Director Jasmine Kwong explore the interactive exhibits at this one-of-a-kind lab and discovery center.
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Recap: Mindworks First Anniversary Celebration
Mindworks celebrated its first birthday July 22-24 with a full weekend of festivities including prize giveaways, live music, guided tours, and much more! Read the recap and see photos from the event.
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Nudge for Good: Richard Thaler in conversation with Greta Johnsen
On Tuesday, June 7, Mindworks and WBEZ hosted a special conversation with Richard Thaler & Nerdette host Greta Johnsen. The recording of the event is now available.
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Mindmeld: A Mindworks Takeover with WBEZ
On Saturday June 4, WBEZ was on site at Mindworks for a fun and fascinating day of scientific studies and prize giveaways.
THREE EMERGING SCHOLARS JOIN THE CDR FOR THE LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE SUMMER PROGRAM
This summer, the Center for Decision Research will welcome three outstanding rising scholars as part of the Leadership Alliance’s Summer Research Early Identification Program. Get to know this year's participants, their mentors, and what excites them about the program.
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Video: Think Better with Michele Gelfand
The Think Better Speaker Series returned Monday, April 18 with Stanford's Michele Gelfand, who presented "Tight and Loose Cultures: Unlocking the Hidden Code of Social Norms." The event recording is now available.
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New Tiny Course Explores the Science of Motivation
What’s the best way to set goals, manage multiple goals, and exercise self-control? Professor Ayelet Fishbach shares her insights in this new Tiny Course. With a series of short videos and quick quizzes, you can start to master the science of motivation in less than an hour.
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CDR Scholars Headline SJDM Conference
The 42nd Society for Judgment and Decision Making Conference—held February 10-12, 2022—will feature more than 30 posters and presentations from CDR scholars, plus a keynote from Professor Sendhil Mullainathan.
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Recap: Think Better with Alexander Todorov
The Think Better Speaker Series returned Wednesday, March 9 with Prof. Alexander Todorov's talk "What Do We 'See' in a Face?" a deep dive into the science (and pseudoscience) of first impressions.
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APPLY FOR THE LEADERSHIP ALLIANCE SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM
The CDR is seeking undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds interested in social psychology, cognitive psychology, and behavioral economics. Learn all about the program and how to apply.
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MOTIVATION EXPERT AYELET FISHBACH SHOWS HOW TO "GET IT DONE"
Prof. Ayelet Fishbach's new book hits shelves January 4, 2022. "Get It Done: Surprising Lessons from the Science of Motivation" explains how to identify the right goals, attack the “middle problem,” battle temptations, utilize the help of others around you, and so much more.
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Recap: "Think Better" with Richard Thaler
On Wednesday, November 3, 2021, Nobel Laureate Richard Thaler joined CDR Faculty Director Nick Epley for a hybrid installment of the Think Better speaker series exploring Thaler's new book, Nudge: The Final Edition.
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Behavioral Science in the News
CDR faculty, students, and researchers are routinely featured in popular press including the New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, and other outlets. This new publication highlights selected CDR media coverage from January 2020 to August 2021, including press mentions, editorials, podcast appearances, and more.
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Mindworks: The Science of Thinking is Now Open!
The CDR is pleased to announce the opening of Mindworks, the world’s first lab and interactive museum dedicated to behavioral science, located at 224 S Michigan Avenue in the heart of Chicago’s cultural corridor. Plan your visit today!
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Research Highlights 2021
In this new collection of behavioral science thought leadership, CDR faculty explore topics like negotiation, consumer behavior, moral judgment, motivation, decision-making, and more.
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A Partnership to Guide Wiser Decision-Making
In the fall of 2018, PIMCO and the CDR announced a partnership in support of CDR’s behavioral science research. In recognition of this investment in research, Chicago Booth’s CDR laboratories were renamed the PIMCO Decision Research Laboratories.
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