BDS

of Experimental Methods

Subject

BDS

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

1

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Social norms are the rules we live by, and we encounter them in any area of our life. Social norms often guarantee the smooth functioning of a group or organization. Sometimes, however, these norms are inefficient or do not benefit society at large. What can we do to change these harmful collective behaviors? Social psychology, philosophy, sociology, rational- choice, legal theory, and even economics, are investigating and theorizing pro-social behavior, justice motivation, and moral and social norms. In this course, we will examine the latest and best in this emerging multidisciplinary field. Students will be encouraged to apply its findings and methods to their area of interest.

Subject

BDS

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

A core MBDS program course requirement, this course addresses methodological, conceptual, and practical issues that apply to policies and services offered by governments and organizations. We will discuss the conditions that must be satisfied to make different types of behavioral interventions effective and the incentives that stakeholders face. The course relies on the main theoretical and empirical findings of modern policy analysis and upon an extensive set of case studies. Students are required to master conceptual material and main empirical findings to confront and solve practical cases for public policy and organizations. Permits offered to non-MBDS students if space is available. 1 Course Unit

Subject

BDS

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

The course is a survey of methods of research in behavioral and decision sciences. We will cover principles of scientific thinking, operationalizing research questions into testable ideas, and the ethics of behavioral research. A significant portion of the class will be devoted to study designs. We will cover basics of experimental design, quasi-experiments, and observational surveys. The class will also provide an introduction to qualitative research methods, including focus groups, unstructured and semi-structured interviews, and ethnographies. We will conclude the semester with the methods of communicating our findings to different types of audiences. We will analyze research processes and results from the perspective of the information consumer. The class will be useful for those interested in learning how to read and write behavioral science publications and how to design one's own studies. For practical skills in using software to analyze data, see BDS 5220 and BDS 5160.

Subject

BDS

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This course is a basic primer for key concepts in statistics needed for anyone that wants to take additional classes in behavioral and decision sciences- or work in a relevant field. This course helps serve as a prerequisite for the MBDS Program.

Subject

BDS

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Subject

BDS

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

We negotiate every day-with merchants, service providers, employers, coworkers, friends, and family-determining the price we will pay, the amount of our compensation, where to go to dinner, who will clean the kitchen, etc. Although negotiations are a ubiquitous part of our everyday lives, many of us know little about the strategy and psychology of effective negotiations. Why do we sometimes get our way, while other times we walk away feeling frustrated by our inability to achieve the agreement we desire? Over the past few decades, research in social psychology and decision science has sought the answer to this question and created a rich body of knowledge on bargaining behavior, leading to a well-validated prescription on how to negotiate. In this course, you will learn both the how and the why of negotiation behavior. Through role-playing exercises, you will be able to evaluate your own negotiation behavior as well as that of your classmates and receive advice on how to optimize it to achieve your desired outcomes. Importantly, you will also read and discuss research articles that have led to such practical advice. Non-MBDS students may request a permit to register through Path@Penn.

Subject

BDS

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Subject

BDS

Type

alias

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Game theory studies strategic interactions—situations in which outcomes depend not only on one’s own choices, but also on the choices of others—traditionally under the assumption of perfectly rational agents. This course covers game theory with a focus on behavioral science and real-world applications. It begins by introducing the core concepts, assumptions, methods, and tools of game theory. In addition to formal analysis, the course examines the empirical performance of standard predictions by confronting them with experimental evidence and incorporating behavioral models that account for bounded rationality, limited beliefs, and social norms and preferences. The objective is to understand both the logic of strategic reasoning and the conditions under which observed behavior departs from classical assumptions. Throughout the course, formal tools are treated as instruments for analyzing and structuring real strategic problems. The emphasis is not on formal proofs, but on applying these tools to better understand and gain insight into strategic situations in markets, organizations, politics, and social interactions. Students learn how to model strategic interactions using the tools of game theory and apply them to interactions involving individuals across a variety of settings.

Subject

BDS

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

3 Electives at the 5000 level or above 3 Total Course Units 9 In the applied unit, students must take at least one of the following three course options: (i) Norms and Nudges, (ii) Organizational Behavior, or (iii) AI and Human Behavior. Based on an evaluation prior to the start of the program, you will be assigned to ONE of the following two quantitative courses: BDS 5220 Statistical Reasoning for Behavioral Science (intermediate-level taught in Fall), or BDS 5160 Data Science and Quantitative Modeling (advanced-level taught in Spring). n

Subject

BDS

Credits (min)

1

Credits (max)

1

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This course addresses the ideal standards of judging and deciding, and the ways in which people fall short of these standards, with emphasis on the latter. We will discuss heuristics and other intuitive strategies that people may use in day-to-day thinking, and the biases that result from this use. We will apply this approach to shed light on faulty analyses in medicine, law, and everyday thinking. Understanding the ideals of good thinking and causes of our failure to conform to these ideals may ultimately help improve the decisions we make in private and professional lives. Permits offered to non-MBDS students if space is available. 1 Course Unit

Subject

BDS

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

The complexity of human behavior exceeds that of most phenomena studied in the natural sciences. Any inference about human behavior and decision-making has to rely on statistical methods rather than on deterministic modeling. In this class, students will learn the methods of descriptive and inferential statistics used in behavioral science from the basics to those more commonly used. In this sense, this is a class on theoretical statistics, but we will go beyond theory to apply these methods to answer our own research questions. As such, this is also a class on applied statistics. We will rely heavily on statistical programming languages (namely, R) and version control systems (Git) to create statistical reports. Finally, we will work with new research in the field and learn to critically assess the statistical methods used therein. After completing this class, students will be competent in reading cutting-edge scientific literature, producing their own results using the more commonly usedmethods, and able to critically assess the limitations of their own and other people's research. Non-MBDS students must complete a permit request. 1 Course Unit

Subject

BDS

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

In order to successfully manage an organization, its groups, and its individuals, you need to first understand why people in a given organization do what they do. In other words, an understanding of the human side of management and an ability to communicate that understanding are essential to your success in any career you choose. This course assumes that in order to accomplish organizational goals; you will need to work for other people, work with other people, and supervise other people. To do so effectively, you need to understand the behavioral science behind organizations. This course will survey several topics in service of this goal, including decision biases, motivation, power and influence, networks, diversity, team processes and culture. Throughout, you will be asked to demonstrate your knowledge of these concepts and your ability to use them to analyze situations as well as to provide prescriptions for change. Permits offered to non-MBDS students if space is available. 1 Course Unit 2026-27 Catalog | Generated 08/03/26

Subject

BDS

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

& Future

Subject

BDS

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Subject

BDS

Type

alias

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Quantitative Unit 1 Students will be assigned to one of the following:

Subject

BDS

Credits (min)

2

Credits (max)

2

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Understanding social groups and networks is a crucial component to understanding the nuances of interdependent behavior. The first aim of the class is to critically examine the theoretical approaches used to conceptualize the formation and performance of social groups as well as their dynamics from a social network perspective. The next part of the course will cover applied aspects of social network data collection and analysis including concepts such as sampling, descriptive statistics, and inferential models. We will discuss the design and implementation of field studies to answer research questions about community formation, homophily, and the spread of behavior and beliefs. The last part of the course will introduce students to agent-based modeling; We will study diffusion, contagion, and the emergence of norms using microsimulations. The course will wrap up with an overview of the presented theories, methods, and approaches of social network analysis and students will have the opportunity to reflect and synthesize about these overarching concepts. Please note: the course will draw from current literature and applied research and while some parts of the course will be taught in R and NetLogo, coding is not the primary focus of the course. Proficiency in R or Netlogo is not required 1 Course Unit

Subject

BDS

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

This course offers students an opportunity to learn, interact with, and discuss cutting edge topic areas in behavioral and decision sciences. 1 Course Unit

Subject

BDS

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Subject

BDS

Type

alias

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

The Independent Study is only open to MBDS students. 0.5-1 Course Unit

Subject

BDS

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Science: Design, Test and Implement

Subject

BDS

Credits (min)

0.5

Credits (max)

0.5

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Science: Design, Test and Implement

Subject

BDS

Credits (min)

0.5

Credits (max)

0.5

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Subject

BDS

Type

alias

Source

catalog.upenn.edu

Behavioral Science Individual Capstone for cohorts before 2022. 1 Course Unit

Subject

BDS

Type

course

Edition

2026-2027

Source

catalog.upenn.edu