NTU Course

Social Service Delivery: Behavioral Economics and Implementation Science

Offered in 114-2Updated
  • Serial Number

    20275

  • Course Number

    SW5044

  • Course Identifier

    330 U0610

  • No Class

  • 3 Credits
  • Elective

    THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK / THE GRADUATE INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL WORK

      Elective
    • THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK

    • THE GRADUATE INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL WORK

  • WANG JULIA SHU-HUAH
  • Mon 2, 3, 4
  • 社203

  • Type 2

  • 25 Student Quota

    NTU 23 + non-NTU 2

  • No Specialization Program

  • English
  • NTU COOL
  • Core Capabilities and Curriculum Planning
  • Notes

    The course is conducted in English。 The course is conducted in English。

  • Limits on Course Adding / Dropping
    • Restriction: juniors and beyond

  • NTU Enrollment Status

    Enrolled
    0/23
    Other Depts
    0/4
    Remaining
    0
    Registered
    0
  • Course Description
    This course will examine the relationship between behavioral economics, implementation science, and social service delivery. Individuals frequently make decisions that systematically depart from the predictions of standard economic models based on rational behavior assumptions. Behavioral economics attempts to integrate the understanding of the psychology of human behavior into policy implementation. Implementation science is a school of knowledge that can integrate theory and practice into service delivery. The course will review the major themes of behavioral economics and implementation science and discuss the applications for social work, social services, and social policies.
  • Course Objective
    • Enable students interested in social services and social policies to learn the relevant knowledge of behavioral economics and implementation science • Enable students interested in promoting social change to integrate knowledge of behavioral economics and implementation science in the design, administration and evaluation of social services and social policies
  • Course Requirement
  • Expected weekly study hours before and/or after class
  • Office Hour
    Mondays after class or by appointment
  • Designated Reading
    Congdon, W. J., Kling, J. R., & Mullainathan, S. (2011). Policy and choice: Public finance through the lens of behavioral economics. Brookings Institution Press. (Available free online) Thaler, R. H., & Sunstein, C. R. (2022). Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness. Yale University Press. Brownson, R. C., Colditz, G. A., & Proctor, E. K. (Eds.). (2017). Dissemination and implementation research in health: translating science to practice. Oxford University Press.
  • References
  • Grading
    5%

    Presentation on heuristics and bias

    Each group will present on one “heuristic or bias”. (1) Describe the bias and (2) present evidence on how humans have exhibited this behavior (Feel free to test the classmates to see how they behave). (3) Additionally, present a couple of examples of how this could impact behavior outside of the lab. Each presentation should be 5 minutes in duration. • Availability Heuristic • Representativeness Heuristic • Anchoring and Adjustment • Overconfidence • Sunk Cost Fallacy • Confirmation Bias • Projection Bias • Hot Hand Fallacy • Normalcy Bias

    5%

    Reflection Paper

    Option 1: Participate in the International Symposium on Social Resilience on March 2 and submit a reflection paper (< one page). OR Option 2: Complete the required readings for Week 1 and submit a reflection paper, including your questions (< one page).

    10%

    Empirical example presentation

    Students will present two empirical papers in class during the semester. The presentation will be for 10 minutes, covering the gist of the study (research question(s), theoretical background and literature review, methods and findings) and raising two discussion questions at the end of the presentation. The presenting student should upload the powerpoint file to NTU COOL before class.

    30%

    Participation

    Participate in discussions and exercises in class.

    50%

    Final Paper (Written Paper and Oral Presentation)

    Each student will select a topic of your choice, identify and describe a policy/social service problem, apply behavioural economic concepts, and propose policy solutions. Students will present their final paper in class (15 minutes) and submit the written version (6-page) via NTU Cool. The outline of the paper is as follows. • Identify and describe a policy/social service issue/problem • Assess the behavioral tendencies that contribute to this issue/problem • Select and apply behavioral economic concepts to propose policy solutions (including an action plan) • Discuss the caution/limitation of the application Oral presentation: 25% Written paper: 25%


    1. NTU has not set an upper limit on the percentage of A+ grades.
    2. NTU uses a letter grade system for assessment. The grade percentage ranges and the single-subject grade conversion table in the NATIONAL TAIWAN UNIVERSITY Regulations Governing Academic Grading are for reference only. Instructors may adjust the percentage ranges according to the grade definitions. For more information, see the Assessment for Learning Section
  • Adjustment methods for students
    Adjustment MethodDescription
    D1

    由師生雙方議定

    Negotiated by both teachers and students

  • Make-up Class Information
  • Course Schedule
    2/23Week 1• Introduction to the class • Introduction to behavioural economics
    3/2Week 2International Conference Observation
    3/9Week 3• Present bias and procrastination • Temptation and commitment
    3/16Week 4• Heuristic and bias presentations • Loss aversion, endowment effect, and status quo bias
    3/23Week 5• Human inertia, choice overload, and defaults • Getting things done by active choice, planning reminders
    3/30Week 6• Preferences and choice architecture • Social comparison
    4/6Week 7No Class - Holiday
    4/13Week 8• Incentives • Disclosure
    4/20Week 9• Complexity • Salience and attention
    4/27Week 10• Asymmetric information: old age insurance; health insurance and unemployment insurance • Application Process • Effectiveness
    5/4Week 11Applications • Poverty • Labor market application • Mental accounting • Savings
    5/11Week 12Applications • Addictions and Self-Control • Externalities and internalities
    5/18Week 13• Introduction to implementation science • Theories and frameworks of implementation science
    5/25Week 14• Implementation strategies • Implementation science measurement, outcomes, and design • Application, adaptation and fidelity
    6/1Week 15• Student presentations
    6/8Week 16• Student presentations • Final words