Paul Deutchman
Academic Courses
Advanced Research Methods
University of PENNSYLVANIA
This course is aimed at understanding how to do research in the interdisciplinary methods of PPE. Whether it is a scientific paper, a thesis proposal, a research statement for grant or fellowship applications, or a report for a public or private employer engaged in any type of research, it is essential to know all the steps and the elements to make the final manuscript captivating and exhaustive. In this course, among other things, you will be learning (i) how to choose a topic of your interest, (ii) how to formulate specific research questions, and (iii) what methods, frameworks, and theories you can use to answer your research questions, and turn your initial idea into a well-structured written production. This course is strongly encouraged for juniors intending to pursue the Senior Honors Thesis track in PPE and upperclassmen in PPE with serious research aspirations here at Penn and beyond. While the final project in this course will depend on the individual student's purpose for taking this methods seminar, this course will fulfill the capstone requirement in the PPE major. Interested students must apply.
Origins of Cooperation & Conflict
University of PENNSYLVANIA
Students in this capstone seminar will take an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the origins of cooperation and conflict. The course is divided into three parts. Part I explores the evolutionary roots of cooperation and conflict, including the role of natural selection in shaping human behavior, and how game theory can help us understand when individuals are likely to cooperate or compete in strategic interactions. Part II examines cooperation and conflict from a more psychological lens, reading a diverse range of primary research covering topics such as collective action, social emotions, morality, social norms, punishment, and intergroup conflict. Part III applies the knowledge acquired previously to contemporary social issues broadly related to cooperation and conflict, including polarization, AI, immigration, and misinformation. The class culminates in an independent research paper broadly related to cooperation and conflict, allowing students to conduct independent research on a topic of interest and make connections to other academic disciplines. By the end of the course, students will have a deep understanding of the key concepts related to the origins of cooperation and conflict and the ability to use this knowledge to generate scientifically informed interventions to promote cooperation across a variety of contexts.
Experimental Design for Empirical Research
University of PENNSYLVANIA
This course will focus on how to design rigorous experiments for empirical research. We will cover the basics of experimental design such as translating research questions into testable hypotheses, operationalizing independent and dependent variables, randomization and counterbalancing, and how to address potential issues such as confounding variables and bias in the research process. We will read a number of interdisciplinary empirical research papers—primarily from psychology, behavioral economics, and experimental philosophy—focusing on their methods and experimental design. Additionally, you will receive hands-on experience proposing and designing your own research study. By the end of this course, you will have a comprehensive understanding of experimental design and methodology and be equipped to critically evaluate empirical research across disciplines.
Moral Psychology
University of PENNSYLVANIA
This course explores human morality and its importance to human behavior and society. We will read and discuss theoretical and empirical work on morality, primarily from the psychological literature, but supplemented with work from moral philosophy, evolutionary biology, and behavioral economics. We will start the class by discussing the evolutionary origins of morality and cover major themes of moral psychology spanning moral judgements and decision making, moral emotions, and moral development. We will conclude the course by synthesizing the concepts and ideas from moral psychology with philosophical theories of morality and will discuss the implications of moral psychology to contemporary societal issues. Over the length of the course, we will address questions such as: Where does morality come from? How does morality change across childhood? Why are there cross-cultural differences in morality? How can the empirical study of morality inform ethical decision making and public policy?
Behavioral Economics & Psychology
University of PENNSYLVANIA
Our understanding of markets, governments, and societies rests on our understanding of choice behavior, and the psychological forces that govern it. This course will introduce you to the study of choice, and will examine in detail what we know about how people make choices, and how we can influence these choices. It will utilize insights from psychology and economics, and will apply these insights to domains including risky decision making, intertemporal decision making, and social decision making.