Introduction to the Social Sciences

Course goals

Learning objectives
At the end of this course, the student is able to:

• describe, explain, and apply core concepts, theories, and procedures from psychology that are relevant to economics (on topics: introduction to psychology, two systems, heuristics & biases, choices).
• describe, explain, and apply core concepts, theories, and procedures from sociology that are relevant to economics (on topics: introduction to sociology, norms, networks, stratification & mobility).
• list and restate core arguments and findings of scientific papers from psychology and sociology on the above-mentioned topics.
• present social science research in a professional way, following the steps of the empirical cycle.
• reflect on and discuss social science research critically.

Content

Why is observed behavior, ranging from consumer choices to bank managers investment decisions, often not in accordance with the predictions of standard economic models? Psychologists, sociologists, and economists use different frameworks to address this question. In this course, students will become acquainted with the most important concepts, theories, and procedures in psychology and sociology that are relevant to economic science. 

Both psychology and sociology as disciplines have much in common with economics, but there are also complementarities. For instance, in the field known as behavioral economics the study of psychology is related to the economic decision-making processes of individuals. This field questions whether utility and profit maximization adequately describe people's real behavior. It uses insights from psychology to explain why and how actual behavior diverges from strictly maximizing behavior. For example, what are the psychological factors underpinning bounded rationality, systematic biases, and hyperbolic discounting in decision making, and to what extent can they explain why people sometimes make seemingly irrational decisions? With respect to sociology and economics, there are also complementarities in approaches. For instance, although the rational choice approach is used in both sociology and economics, the former tends to focus on human behavior driven by norms and values and agents’ embeddedness in structures, institutions and networks of society, while the latter tends to focus on how individuals respond to (financial) incentives.

The aim of this course is to introduce students to psychological and sociological social science research most relevant for economics. It provides a first introduction to the major themes studied in psychology (e.g., two systems, heuristics & biases, choices), and in sociology (e.g., norms, networks, stratification & mobility).
 
Effort requirement
Students are required to be present in 80% of lectures and tutorials, and actively participate in these lectures and tutorials. 

Place of the course within the curriculum
Introduction course for the bachelor students Economics and Business Economics with approved optional minor Social Sciences.  


In case online access is required for this course and you are not in the position to buy the access code, you are advised to contact the course coordinator for an alternative solution. Please note that access codes are not re-usable meaning that codes from second hand books do not work, as well as access codes from books with a different ISBN. Separate or spare codes are usually not available.