The DMEP Center at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev is an interdisciplinary endeavor devoted to research and teaching of normative, descriptive, and prescriptive theories of judgment, decision-making, and economic psychology. This field of study draws on cognitive and social psychology, economics, sociology, statistics, and other disciplines to understand how individuals and groups construct judgments and make decisions in a variety of domains.
Researchers at the Center study the processes by which intuition, reasoning, emotion, and social influence produce beliefs, attitudes, judgments, and choices. These topics have important applications in a range of contexts, including management, medicine, marketing, business, finance, and public policy. By understanding the processes through which people make decisions and formulate judgments, and by developing computerized decision aids, it is possible to eventually help individuals as well as organizations to make better decisions. Well thought out decisions are likely to better serve decision-makers in achieving goals in diverse areas, from the management of potentially hazardous technologies, to the fuller involvement of patients in medical choices. The center has a wide interdisciplinary membership, including scholars of Psychology, Economics, Engineering, Organizational Behavior, Marketing and Consumer Behavior, Public Policy and more.
The importance of studying judgment and decision-making, and particularly behavioral decision-making, is increasingly recognized by a variety of relevant disciplines, as well as the media and the general public.
DMEP@BGU contributes to this growing field by conducting cutting edge research, organizing national and international conferences, and mentoring undergraduate and graduate students. These efforts are aimed at helping people understand why they make sub-optimal choices and how to make better decisions to improve their health, wealth and happiness.
