Introductory description

The aim of this module is to provide students with insights into human behaviour that can be easily translated into actions they can take to create more ethical environments.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Introduction to Behavioural Ethics: Why ethics?
Unethical Behaviour in the Lab and the Field
Evaluating Experimental Paradigms
Unethical Behaviour and Incentives
Motivated Cognition
Deception Detection
The role of Social Norms, Culture and Institutions in Shaping Ethics
Ethical decision making in groups: Diffusion of Responsibility, Pivotality, Complicity
Organizational Ethics: Corruption, Whistleblowing, Power, Leadership
Ethics in CSR and Nudging

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of when and why people cross ethical boundaries
• Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the cutting-edge experimental approaches to study ethics
• Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the factors that lead to ethical choices not being made in isolation, but being part of social interaction
• Articulate reasoned arguments around ethics
• Use behavioural insights to create an environment which encourages more ethical behaviour
• Critically evaluate research on behavioural ethics

Indicative reading list

Much of the reading will be in the form of published papers or working papers, but several texts/collections of readings will be
used:

Abeler, J., Nosenzo, D., & Raymond, C. (2019). Preferences for truth‐telling. Econometrica, 87(4), 1115-1153.

Bazerman, M. H., & Tenbrunsel, A. E. (2011). Blind spots: Why we fail to do what's right and what to do about it. Princeton University Press.

Falk, A., Neuber, T., & Szech, N. (2020). Diffusion of being pivotal and immoral outcomes. The Review of Economic Studies, 87(5), 2205-2229.

Krupka, E. L., & Weber, R. A. (2013). Identifying social norms using coordination games: Why does dictator game sharing vary?. Journal of the European Economic Association, 11(3), 495-524.

Bowles, S. (2016). The moral economy: Why good incentives are no substitute for good citizens. Yale University Press.

Drumwright, M., Prentice, R., & Biasucci, C. (2015). Behavioral ethics and teaching ethical decision making. Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education, 13(3), 431-458.

Gerlach, P., Teodorescu, K., & Hertwig, R. (2019). The truth about lies: A meta-analysis on dishonest behavior. Psychological bulletin, 145(1), 1.

Meibauer, J. (Ed.). (2018). The Oxford Handbook of Lying. Oxford Handbooks.

Harvard Business School Cases. Catalog. Use the search window to find ethics cases.

Research element

• Critically evaluate experimental data; assessing the external validity of lab findings
• Use experimental techniques appropriately for answering a research question and testing of specific hypotheses
• Critically evaluate research on behavioural ethics
• Explore and evaluate the degree to which empirical data can distinguish between competing theories

Subject specific skills

• Critically analyse the basic assumptions built into specific psychological and economic models of ethical behaviour
• Critically evaluate experimental data; assessing the external validity of lab findings
• Use experimental techniques appropriately for answering a research question and testing of specific hypotheses
• Explore and evaluate the degree to which empirical data can distinguish between competing theories

Transferable skills

• Demonstrate good communication skills when writing reports, presenting findings and structuring arguments