RA in RDCL: Reasoning, Decision making, and Computational modeling Lab

TO APPLY, FILL OUT THE FOLLOWING SURVEY: https://forms.gle/ZWH8NEn7wvJ6xgdu6

Thank you for considering joining RDCL (Reasoning, Decision making, and Computational modeling Lab) as a research assistant (RA)!

We study human reasoning and decision making. 

We explore how people combine information to make judgments and choose between options.

A few current topics in the lab are:

• Forensics: How best to construct and measure the success of eyewitness lineups and fingerprint analysis.
• Reasoning: How best to teach reasoning concepts, such as Bayesian reasoning and probability.
• Decision making: How do people decide which of multiple options to select, and how do these decision-making phenomena influence other tasks, such as categorization.

Most of the work uses behavioral experiments. Eye tracking is sometimes employed to determine how people seek out and use information.

Computational modeling is a key component of our research. A mathematical model is a psychological theory that has been described in mathematical terms. The qualitative and quantitative predictions of the model can then be tested empirically. Modeling is a powerful tool.

As an RA, at a minimum, you will be asked to:

• Attend and participate in a weekly lab meeting.
• Recruit participants and run experiments.
• Pilot experiments.
• Help code and analyze data.
• Read and discuss primary research articles.
• Commit at least 3 hours/week.

Further information:

• RDCL website: https://blogs.umass.edu/rdcl/
• Andrew Cohen website: https://www.umass.edu/psychological-brain-sciences/about/directory/andrew-cohen