Experimental Methods in Social Systems
Masteremne
- Studiepoeng
- 10
- Undervisningssemester
- Haust, Vår
- Emnekode
- GEO-SD306
- Talet på semester
- 1
- Undervisningsspråk
- English
- Ressursar
- Timeplan
Emnebeskrivelse
Mål og innhald
The course provides theory of dynamic complexity and other influence factors in dynamic decision making. It introduces methods for the design, implementation, and analysis of laboratory experiments. Previous experiments in the field are replicated. Simulator construction, goal and task structure, experimental design, optimisation to establish benchmarks, statistics for hypothesis testing and internal and external validity of experiments are covered. The students design and carry out their own pilot laboratory experiments with focus on (1) purpose, (2) hypotheses, (3) design, and (4) analysis. The experiments can address both behavioural theories and learning interventions. The grading considers documentation of the vital design steps, analysis, and presentation.
The course serves as a complement to earlier courses in System Dynamics. Through the design and analysis of experiments students get a deeper insight into decision-making. This makes them better modellers. They also develop their inclination to ask questions about and their ability to distinguish significant and insignificant assumptions in models. Students become better at asking critical questions about models and they reduce their bias towards seeking confirming evidence.
Læringsutbyte
By the end of the course, the students will be able to:
Knowledge
Students
- know how to design, program, carry out, analyse, and report results from laboratory experiments of dynamic systems.
- know about methods to construct benchmarks.
- know the most important theories of bounded rationality and in particular theories of misperceptions and learning difficulties in dynamic systems.
Skills
Students
- apply their knowledge and develop their skills by designing, carrying out and reporting on an experiment.
- Are able to test theories of bounded rationality and in particular theories of misperceptions and learning difficulties in dynamic systems.
General competence
Students
- distinguish different purposes of experiments such as testing theories of decision-making and investigating effectiveness of learning environments.
- understand and are able to judge the quality of research based on both laboratory and field experiments.
Studiepoeng, omfang
Studienivå (studiesyklus)
Undervisningssemester
Krav til forkunnskapar
Tilrådde forkunnskapar
Studiepoengsreduksjon
Krav til studierett
Arbeids- og undervisningsformer
Obligatorisk undervisningsaktivitet
Vurderingsformer
Term paper (report).
The exam assignment will be given in the language of instruction in the course.
The exam answer must be submitted in the same language as the exam assignment.
Karakterskala
Vurderingssemester
Spring
Students with valid absence as defined in the UiB regulations § 5-5 can apply for an extended submission deadline to studieveileder.geog@uib.no. The application must be submitted before the deadline for submission has expired. Maximum one week extension.