Class Central is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The Open University

Making decisions

The Open University via OpenLearn

Overview

Save Big on Coursera Plus. 7,000+ courses at $160 off. Limited Time Only!
Do you hate making decisions? Does the ability of others to make snap decisions really frustrate you? This free course will help you understand some of the processes involved in decision making. Attention to the psychology of decision making and the social context in which decisions are made can improve your understanding of others and yourself.

Syllabus

  • Introduction
  • Learning outcomes
  • 1 Making decisions
  • 1 Making decisions
  • 1.1 Introducing decision-making
  • 2 Understanding your own approach
  • 2 Understanding your own approach
  • 2.1 Exercising judgement
  • 2.2 Different approaches to decision making
  • 3 The rational-economic perspective and its problems
  • 3 The rational-economic perspective and its problems
  • 3.1 Introduction
  • 3.2 Utility theory
  • 3.3 Limitations of the rational-economic perspective
  • 4 A psychological perspective
  • 4 A psychological perspective
  • 4.1 Introduction
  • 4.2 Bounded rationality and the use of heuristics
  • 4.3 Framing the problem
  • 4.4 Using information
  • 4.5 Deciding: problems of judgement
  • 4.5.1 Filtering
  • 4.5.2 Anchoring adjustment
  • 4.6 Post-decision evaluation
  • 5 A sociological perspective
  • 5 A sociological perspective
  • 5.1 Introduction
  • 5.2 The social construction of reality
  • 5.3 Social institutions
  • 5.4 The pursuit of legitimacy
  • 5.5 Social pressures which affect our decision making
  • 5.5.1 Coercive pressures
  • 5.5.2 Mimetic pressures
  • 5.5.3 Normative pressures
  • 5.6 A way of dealing with social pressures: decoupling
  • 6 Risk and decision making
  • 6 Risk and decision making
  • 6.1 Introduction
  • 6.2 A rational-economic perspective on risk
  • 6.3 The psychology of risk
  • 6.4 Prospect theory
  • 6.4.1 Implications
  • 6.5 The social construction of quantifiable risk
  • 6.6 The social construction of unknown risk
  • 7 Making a difference to decision making
  • 7 Making a difference to decision making
  • 7.1 Introduction
  • 7.2 Understanding the limits of rationality
  • 7.3 What is an effective decision?
  • 7.4 Avoiding decision traps
  • 7.5 Becoming an institutional entrepreneur
  • Conclusion
  • Keep on learning
  • References
  • Acknowledgements

Reviews

4.0 rating, based on 1 Class Central review

4.3 rating at OpenLearn based on 30 ratings

Start your review of Making decisions

  • Abdulhalim Kırmızıtepe
    Çok başarılı akademik yazılar ve örnekler vardı gelişim açısından güzel bir kurs. Ama daha önce dediğim gibi arayüzü biraz kafa karıştırıcı

Never Stop Learning.

Get personalized course recommendations, track subjects and courses with reminders, and more.

Someone learning on their laptop while sitting on the floor.