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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Research Highlights: Racism, Prejudice, Stereotyping, and Intergroup Relations
A collection of CDR faculty research on issues including stereotyping, racial bias in algorithmic decision making, how implicit biases influence use of force, humanizing those with disagree with, bridging ethnic divides, and more.
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A message from Dean Rajan on the death of George Floyd and other racially motivated events
Chicago Booth Dean Madhav Rajan issued a statement affirming the school’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, and rejection of racism.
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Just Launched: PIMCO Decision Research Virtual Lab
Due to COVID-19, the CDR's in-person labs are temporarily closed, so we moved our behavioral science research online. Find out how the labs are adapting and how you can take paid research studies from the comfort and safety of home.
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Webinar: The Surprising Power of Social Connection
How can we stay emotionally connected while social distancing? In this webinar, Prof. Nicholas Epley explores the science behind meaningful social interactions.
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COVID-19 and CDR Operations
Along with the entire UChicago community, the CDR continues to closely follow the evolving situation with coronavirus (COVID-19). In accordance with University guidance and to prioritize safety, the CDR has suspended lab operations and postponed events originally scheduled for spring 2020.
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Think Better with Adam Alter
On Wednesday, February 19, the CDR welcomed Adam Alter, associate professor of marketing at NYU's Stern School of Business, for his talk on the behavioral science behind our obsession with screens. Read the event recap and watch the full video.
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CDR Hosts Open House
On Wednesday, January 29, the Center for Decision Research welcomed more than 125 Booth community members for an open house featuring fascinating talks, prize giveaways, a pop-up lab, and more.
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CDR Featured at Society for Judgment and Decision Making Annual Meeting
The Society for Judgment and Decision Making held its Annual Meeting Nov. 15-18 in Montreal. CDR's prominence at the event continues: more than 40 talks & posters featured work by CDR faculty & students. The CDR also sponsored the Women in SJDM networking event and hosted a CDR reunion dinner.
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Fall 2019 Thaler-Tversky Research Grant Recipients
The Center for Decision Research is pleased to announce the newest recipients of the Thaler-Tversky Independent Research Grant for emerging scholars. Learn about the winners and their proposed research projects.
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Think Better with Stephen Wendel
On Nov. 6, the CDR welcomed Stephen Wendel, Head of Behavioral Science at Morningstar, for his talk, "Challenges and Opportunities of Behavioral Science in Business." Read more about his talk and watch the full video.
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The Center for Decision Research Welcomes New Faculty
Three new assistant professors join the CDR community: Shereen Chaudhry, Joshua Dean, and Celia Gaertig.
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Nicholas Epley Partners With BBC to Replicate Groundbreaking Study
CDR faculty director Nicholas Epley found that in both the U.S. and the U.K., when commuters talk with strangers on public transportation, both people report feeling happier.
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Research Highlights, 2013–2018
Highlights from the work of CDR Researchers. The articles here were originally published in the Chicago Booth Review, which publishes research-driven insights on business, policy, and markets.
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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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