FSOC40315: Interdisciplinarity Methods for Decision Making

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• This module aims to support students in:
• Using interdisciplinary methods to assist real-world decision making
• Working in interdisciplinary teams
• Fostering understandings of the real-world contexts in which research-informed decisions are made
• Exploring epistemic decision-making processes
• Dealing with issues of bias, evidence and complex causality
• Navigating complexity in evaluation
• Communicating evidence

• Introduction and background to interdisciplinary methods for decision-making
• Three thematic sessions: Governance and evaluation of complex policy systems; Risk and uncertainty; and Epistemic decision-making: evidence, causality and bias
• Working in interdisciplinary teams
• Bringing it all together
• At the end of the module students will be able to:
• Understand the application of interdisciplinary methods relative to different forms of decision-making in context of a complex social world.
• Explain the usefulness of different types of evidence and interdisciplinary research in relation to decision-making processes.
• Identify and evaluate a range of research-informed decisions relative to their contexts.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
• Explain the complexities of decision-making employing an interdisciplinary lens/focus.
• Define epistemic decision-making processes.
• Identify approaches to communicating evidence in relation to interdisciplinary decision-making.

Subject-specific Skills:

• On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
• Show a critical understanding of decision-making and interdisciplinarity
• Engage in reading and debates pertaining to decision-making and interdisciplinary research
• Reflect on how their research interests can benefit from greater understanding of decision-making processes and interdisciplinary research

Key Skills:

• Read, think and communicate critically and independently
• Construct reasoned arguments about decision-making employing interdisciplinary research
• Use written and spoken communication skills

• The module will be structured around a set of interactive workshops, which will include lecture content, seminar group activities, and self-study time. The seminar components in the workshops will provide spaces for students to test their ideas and receive formative feedback from peers and tutor.
• The summative assignment takes the form of a 2,500 word essay enabling students to think deeply about interdisciplinarity methods and apply these to debates about decision-making.

Seminars will be spaces to test students ideas with peers and seminar convenor and will include focus on the communication of research findings and collaborative working.

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