You make decisions all the time. What should you eat for breakfast? Which route should you take to work? How much are you willing to pay for local, pasture-raised beef over factory farmed, corn-fed meat? Should you go for a run, jog, walk, or finish watching the last season of Breaking Bad?

Some of these decisions might be great, while others … not so much. For example, take the mind-boggling case of someone winning a chess championship one minute and texting while driving the next. Playing chess (competently, at least) requires thinking many steps ahead, considering multiple scenarios and outcomes — whereas texting while driving is a complete and utter failure of the same kind of forward-thinking. The gap between how amazing we are in some respects and completely inept in others just highlights the invaluable nature of studying how humans think and interact with the world.

So, when do we make good decisions, and when and why do we fail? Fortunately, behavioral economics does have some answers. In “A Beginner’s Guide to Irrational Behavior,” you will learn about some of the many ways in which we behave in less than rational ways, and how we might overcome some of our shortcomings. You’ll also find cases where our irrationalities work in our favor, and how we can harness these tendencies to make better decisions.

You will explore topics such as our “irrational” patterns of thinking about money and investments, how expectations shape perception, economic and psychological analyses of dishonesty by honest people, how social and financial incentives work together (or against each other) in labor, how self-control comes into play with decision making, and how emotion (rather than cognition) can have a large impact on economic decisions.

All of this, packed into just 8 weeks! Join our modern crusade to improve decision making, and hopefully learn some things on the way. Sign up now (class starts on March 11th): https://www.coursera.org/course/behavioralecon

Irrationally Yours,

Dan Ariely

We’re happy to announce that we’re officially accepting applications for our 2014 Summer Internship in Behavioral Economics (details below)! Please circulate our PDF (with working links) to any interested students, far and wide!

Six years ago, an orange-and-blue book was first set free into the world. It was the beginning of an amazing journey — not only for the book, but also for me. This book traveled to all parts of the world, translated into ~40 different languages, and I traveled with it. To this day, I still find myself in the far regions of the earth, meeting new people, having interesting conversations, and understanding the world in a different way.

As I reflect today on these last six years, what is amazing to me is the degree to which this book was a starting point for the rest of my life. And the journey continues.

Happy Anniversary,

Dan

About a year ago we had a course called “A Beginner’s Guide to Irrational Behavior” on coursera.org

Creating the course was a lot of work, but it was also tremendously rewarding to create a community that was so involved in the exploration of human nature, and how to improve the decisions we all make day to day.

In about 4 weeks (March 11th) version #2 of this course will start.  This course will be based on some of the same materials from V1, but it should be an improved version given that in the meanwhile we learned a lot about the nature of online courses.

So, if you are interested, or know someone else who might be interested please pass along this link:  https://www.coursera.org/course/behavioralecon

Looking forward to another exciting course

Dan

I have been working on a documentary about cheating with Salty Features for a while now, and I am looking for the best title for the film. And who better to ask than you?

If you’d like to help me name this documentary, please take the survey here. It should only take you about 2 minutes to complete, and I very much appreciate your help.

Thanks!!

Irrationally Yours,

Dan Ariely

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_FF67Sjfqo

What can you do with Pocket Ariely?

READ! life-changing advice from a “genius at understanding human behavior” [James Surowiecki, staff writer at The New Yorker and author of The Wisdom of Crowds], and never make another bad decision!

WATCH! lectures and entertaining videos from “one of my heroes” [George Akerloff, 2001 Nobel Laureate in Economics], and never let anyone else make a bad decision either!

LISTEN! as a man described as “surprisingly entertaining” [USA Today] interviews the leading scientists of the day, and learn everything there is to know about humanity!

LOOK! at visual illusions that will twist your brain into knots, and remind yourself of your own irrational tendencies wherever you are!

TASTE! the culinary confections of a man widely acknowledged as the finest improvisational chef in three states, and never go hungry again! (Well, not really…)

With Pocket Ariely in your pocket, you can take me with you wherever you go. You’ll be happier (since you’ll never make another bad decision), healthier (since you’ll never make another bad decision), wealthier (since you’ll never make another bad decision) and wiser (yes, you guessed it: since you’ll never make another bad decision). We almost guarantee it!

Why spend $5 on an app? Think about how much you pay for one latte or one beer. Or how much money you waste on things you don’t need. Just think: you could improve your life forever by saving your lunch money and bringing a salad to work just once. Your waistline may thank you, too! But most importantly, think about how the purchase of this app will help the blossoming field of behavioral economics. All profits from this app will be put toward the research being conducted at my lab, the Center for Advanced Hindsight at Duke University.

Thank you in advance for helping our research, and I hope you enjoy what Pocket Ariely has to offer.

Irrationally Yours,

Dan

Watch our Pocket Ariely teaser and trailer, too!

Download now on your iPhone, iPad, and Android devices!

And check out the talented team of developers that made this app at mezzolab.com

Project Description

We are currently seeking a Full Stack Developer to join our team to develop and support a growing collection of software for collecting and analyzing internal research, as well as developing software that will be marketed and released to a public audience.

This position will help build and maintain a suite of fun and innovative web and mobile apps to help people make better moral, financial, and health decisions. This suite includes user-facing mobile apps, admin-facing web applications, and backends for interaction between the two. Among the projects currently in motion is an internal iPad app that helps the Center and its collaborators around the world run experiments on the go. Another app, (Sample) Size Matters, is publicly available and currently being used to collect data from participants all over the globe who download the app. Developing this app is one of the Center’s main priorities, and we are excited to improve it so that it ultimately becomes the best method for data collection worldwide.

While some applications will only be used internally (and the programming focus will be on functionality), others will be distributed to the public and will therefore require a greater focus on interface design and consumer usability.

Overall, the position will be responsible for programming and maintenance of apps, including:

• data collection instrument design
• survey implementation across multiple mobile platforms (e.g., Android and iOS, phones and tablets)
• field-based direct data collection and quality control
• secure device and cloud server storage (Heroku/Mongolab)
• secure transmission of data using mobile platforms

Specific Responsibilities

1. Build Software/Apps for Internal Research Purposes. Serve as the technical lead with a team of researchers to identify innovative approaches for collecting, storing and synthesizing data captured through mobile devices. Develop innovative ways of using mobile platforms for the deployment of study materials. Design, develop, implement and document research software tools. Manage cloud-based web/application servers, configure server software and manage the technology to ensure secure transmission, storage and data sharing.
2. Build Software/Apps for Public Consumption. Oversee the development of commercial applications with a focus on well-designed, attractive, user-friendly applications. The software/apps for public consumption will be designed to teach consumers about behavioral economics. The primary aim of these applications is to educate and nudge people toward making better decisions, helping people in moral, financial, and health domains.
3. Maintain Legacy Software/Apps for Internal and External Use. Support the suite of applications currently in use by the CAH (for both research purposes and public consumption). Maintain pre-existing apps, as well as update software when necessary. Work collaboratively with the original developers to understand the important features of the apps and revise the software appropriately.
4. Optional: Specialize in user interface, human-computer interaction, and design. Preferences include experience with 1) design software such as Photoshop, Sketch, Illustrator and 2) video editing software such as FCPX, Motion. While this is not a necessary skill for the position, applicants with experience in this domain will have an edge on others.

Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

Skills/Experience/Knowledge

Technical (required):

• Python (with webframe work experience)
• Javascript (with jQuery)
• iOS (Objective C)/
• Web development (HTML5, CSS3, web APIs)
• Experience with databases (preferably NoSQL MongoDB)

Preferred:

• Android (Java)
• VPS Services (Heroku)

Other:

• Curiosity and a passion for inquiry
• Experience working in a research environment
• Ability to adjust rapidly to evolving needs of multiple researchers and projects
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with people of varied technical backgrounds
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, as well as manage multiple collaborations and research projects at once
• Ability to meet strict deadlines and work in a timely manner, keeping researchers up to date with progress being made on the applications
• Experience preparing and maintaining form and procedure manuals to effect implementation and the continuing operation of apps
• Knowledge of data security and prior experience acting as an administrator for networked file systems

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Work requires a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics or computer-related field, or equivalent coursework or technical training.

Experience

Work requires one year of programming or analytical experience with knowledge of several computer languages, programs or systems OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE.

What is the Center for Advanced Hindsight?

The Center for Advanced Hindsight is Dan Ariely’s behavioral economics lab at Duke University. We are interested in how and why people make a wide range of decisions, and how certain forces influence our thoughts and behavior. Our research focuses on the faulty assumptions of rational decision making, and strives to unveil how people make decisions in the real world – all kinds of decisions, from what inspires us to work those extra hours, to how much we are willing to spend on black pearls, to what we choose to eat for lunch.

Broadly, our primary research interests include:

• Moral decisions
• Health decisions
• Financial decisions
• Social and environmental influences on behavior

What About Duke?

Duke has been named as a best place to work by several publications and organizations, including Carolina Parent, Computerworld, The Scientist, and the American Association of Retired Persons, among others. The organizations recognizing Duke represent a diverse range of interests, from family-friendly and preventive health to the needs of IT professionals and academic researchers.

Duke’s comprehensive benefits package includes paid time-off (vacation, holidays, sick leave), health, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, retirement, educational assistance, and support for professional development and training. As an employee of Duke University you would also enjoy numerous discounted services such as health club memberships, movie tickets, dining, and entertainment.

Environment

The CAH is a unique working environment, and has acquired a reputation for hosting activities like spontaneous pancake parties, snow cone shindigs, or a lab-wide Color Run. The space is filled with color and hanging chairs, a “Thinking and Dreaming” room, and the occasional art exhibit as a part of our Artistically Irrational series that bridges the gap between the worlds of Art and Science. The lab boasts an airborne remote-control shark, mini hydroponic garden, and the occasional pet sea creature. Not to mention onsite espresso and an ever-changing selection of scrumptious snacks. The work environment is flexible, always evolving, and moves at a pace that even the most highfalutin startups have a hard time keeping up with, and we embrace the momentum with an impassioned sort of grace. It’s not the lifestyle for everyone, but if this sounds appealing, then the CAH might just be the perfect place for you.

Our lab members are as diverse as our daytime activities, with backgrounds ranging from academia to advertising and business to software development. Our work is highly creative and collaborative, and we don’t hesitate to ask for help or to help our peers. And yes, we do walk around in our personalized lab coats that function purely as fashion accessories.

To apply for the position, visit http://www.hr.duke.edu/jobs/apply/ and view Requisition # 400770209 or click here to get to the post directly.

Today, Dan will talk to some lucky google+ers about the psychology of money.

To participate, join the Psychology Community on Google+ and post your thoughts about this topic. Dan will select the most insightful contributors to join him in a Hangout On Air on 9/26 at 2 PM ET.

UPDATE: Here is the conversation.

I just posted a new study that should take you about 2 minutes to complete. If you would like to take the survey (and I would appreciate it very much), please look to the right sidebar under “Participate” and click on the “Take a quick anonymous survey” link. You can also access it right here.

Irrationally Yours,