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IB9ZC: Behavioural Ethics (2021/22)

Module Code:

IB9ZC

Module Name:

Behavioural Ethics

Module Credits (CATS):

15

 

Module Convener

Despoina Alempaki

Module Teachers

Despoina Alempaki

 

Module Aims

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.

Building on theoretical models and empirical evidence from Philosophy, Economics and Psychology, the module will explore various methods of measuring and evaluating ethical behaviour as well as show how people are often influenced, subconsciously, by psychological biases, organizational and social pressures, and situation factors that impact decision making and can lead to unethical action. It will familiarise students with recent research developments in behavioural ethics and the possible implications for theory and policy raised by these developments.

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

The first 3 outcomes are assessed by the class tests and essay, the last 2 by the class tests, essay, and group debate.

 

Module Work Load

Module Length

10 weeks

Lectures

10 lectures of 2 hours each

Seminars

7 seminars of 1 hour each

Attendance

Attendance at lectures and seminars is compulsory

 

Module Assessment

Assessed work:

3000 word essay - based on an ethics-related topic

Group debate - students debate a controversial ethical issue in teams

Weighting:

50%

10%

Exams:

Class Test 1 - short-answer questions covering 4 weeks worth of content

Class Test 2 - short-answer questions covering 4 weeks worth of content

Weighting:

20%

20%

 

Module Programme

The structure of the course is likely to be:

  • Week 1: Introduction to Behavioural Ethics: Why ethics? (Lecture 1)
  • Week 2: Unethical Behaviour in the Lab and the Field (Lecture 2), Evaluating Experimental Paradigms (Lecture 3)
  • Week 3: Unethical Behaviour and Incentives (Lecture 4)
  • Week 4: Bounded Ethicality I: Self-serving Biases, Motivated Beliefs, Attribution Error & Class Test #1 (Lecture 5)
  • Week 5: Bounded Ethicality II: Cognitive Errors, Framing, Loss Aversion, Moral Myopia (Lecture 6), Seminar 1: Case-study
  • Week 6: The role of Social Norms, Culture and Institutions in Shaping Ethics (Lecture 7)
  • Week 7: Ethical decision making in groups: Diffusion of Responsibility, Pivotality, Complicity (Lecture 8), Seminar 2: Debates
  • Week 8: Organizational Ethics: Corruption, Whistleblowing, Power, Leadership & Class Test #2 (Lecture 9)
  • Week 9: Ethics in CSR and Nudging (Lecture 10), Seminar 3: Project Project Drop-in Session

Module 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., & Gino, F. (2012). Behavioral ethics: Toward a deeper understanding of moral judgment and dishonesty. Annual Review of Law and Social Science, 8, 85-104.

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.

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.

For the most up-to-date information on IB9ZC, please contact Warwick Business School