Behavioral Science Course

Lesson 1 • Core Theoretical Frameworks

Introduces dominant theories used to explain human behavior. Equips students to select appropriate frameworks for specific problems.

Lesson 2 • Levels of Analysis in Behavior

Distinguishes individual, group, and societal levels of behavioral explanation. Prepares students to match analysis level to research questions.

Lesson 3 • Defining Behavioral Science

Clarifies what behavioral science is and how it differs from adjacent fields. Sets the conceptual baseline for all subsequent chapters.

Lesson 4 • Historical Development of the Field

Traces major intellectual movements from behaviorism to cognitive science. Provides context for understanding why current methods exist.

Lesson 1 • Quantitative Research Designs

Covers experimental, quasi-experimental, and survey designs for measuring behavior. Enables students to choose designs that match their research goals.

Lesson 2 • Behavioral Measurement Tools

Examines scales, behavioral coding, and physiological measures. Ensures students select valid and reliable instruments for their constructs.

Lesson 3 • Scientific Reasoning and Hypothesis Formation

Teaches inductive and deductive reasoning as tools for generating testable hypotheses. Anchors the research design process in logical structure.

Lesson 4 • Data Interpretation and Reporting

Guides students through analyzing results and communicating findings clearly. Connects measurement to actionable conclusions.

Lesson 1 • Attention and Perception

Explores how selective attention and perceptual filters shape what people notice and act on. Grounds later work on bias and judgment.

Lesson 2 • Heuristics and Cognitive Biases

Identifies mental shortcuts and systematic errors that distort judgment. Prepares students to diagnose bias in applied settings.

Lesson 3 • Judgment Under Uncertainty

Analyzes how people evaluate risk, probability, and ambiguity. Connects cognitive science to practical decision support design.

Lesson 4 • Memory Systems and Behavior

Covers working, long-term, and procedural memory and their roles in guiding action. Links memory architecture to habit and decision research.

Lesson 1 • Goal Pursuit and Persistence

Analyzes how people set, pursue, and abandon goals over time. Informs intervention design for sustained behavior change.

Lesson 2 • Stress, Coping, and Behavior

Examines how stress appraisal and coping styles alter behavioral outcomes. Prepares students to account for stress in applied program design.

Lesson 3 • Self-Regulation and Willpower

Covers models of self-control, ego depletion, and implementation intentions. Equips students to design environments that support self-regulation.

Lesson 4 • Theories of Human Motivation

Reviews need-based, expectancy, and self-determination theories of motivation. Provides a toolkit for diagnosing motivational deficits.

Lesson 1 • Group Dynamics and Collective Behavior

Examines groupthink, social loafing, and intergroup relations. Equips students to diagnose and improve group decision-making processes.

Lesson 2 • Social Identity and Behavior

Explores how group membership and identity shape attitudes and actions. Informs culturally sensitive intervention design.

Lesson 3 • Persuasion and Attitude Change

Covers elaboration likelihood, source credibility, and message framing. Prepares students to design persuasive communications grounded in evidence.

Lesson 4 • Social Norms and Conformity

Distinguishes descriptive from injunctive norms and explains conformity pressures. Enables students to use norm-based messaging strategically.

Lesson 1 • Evaluating Intervention Effectiveness

Teaches logic models, process evaluation, and outcome measurement for interventions. Ensures students can assess whether programs achieve intended behavior change.

Lesson 2 • Reinforcement and Incentive Design

Applies operant conditioning principles to reward and penalty structures. Prepares students to build incentive systems that sustain target behaviors.

Lesson 3 • Nudge Theory and Choice Architecture

Covers default settings, salience, and friction as tools for guiding behavior. Enables students to redesign environments without restricting choice.

Lesson 4 • Habit Formation and Disruption

Analyzes cue-routine-reward loops and strategies for breaking unwanted habits. Connects habit science to long-term behavior change programs.

Lesson 1 • Diagnosing Behavioral Performance Gaps

Introduces functional analysis and performance gap assessment in organizational settings. Grounds intervention design in accurate problem diagnosis.

Lesson 2 • Behavioral Safety and Risk Reduction

Applies behavioral science to reduce unsafe acts and near-miss incidents. Prepares students to build proactive safety cultures in organizations.

Lesson 3 • Team Behavior and Collaboration

Analyzes behavioral drivers of effective teamwork and coordination. Equips students to design team structures that promote cooperation.

Lesson 4 • Feedback Systems and Performance Management

Covers feedback frequency, specificity, and delivery for sustaining performance. Connects behavioral principles to practical management tools.

Lesson 1 • Scaling and Sustaining Interventions

Examines conditions for scaling pilot programs without losing fidelity. Prepares students to plan for long-term sustainability of behavior change efforts.

Lesson 2 • Systems Thinking for Behavior Change

Introduces feedback loops, leverage points, and unintended consequences in behavioral systems. Enables students to map complex behavioral ecosystems.

Lesson 3 • Policy and Environmental Design

Analyzes how regulatory, physical, and economic environments shape behavior at scale. Connects behavioral science to public policy and urban design.

Lesson 4 • Segmentation and Targeting Strategies

Covers behavioral segmentation methods for tailoring interventions to subpopulations. Maximizes intervention reach and relevance across diverse audiences.