Decision Making and Human Behavior in Context (DM)

Overview

<p>The severe consequences of the Covid19-pandemic, including its economic disruptions, and the recent mass protests to combat systemic racial inequality in policing and other institutions have reaffirmed the importance of social science research examining economic, political, racial, ethnic, generational, and social inequalities relevant to public policy and social change. RSF encourages proposals that analyze any of these issues on topics of interest under our Decision Making and Human Behavior in Context initiative. To view Covid-19 Priorities, visit <a href="https://www.russellsage.org/research/funding/covid-19-pandemic">https:/…; <p>The Russell Sage Foundation (RSF) is launching a new special initiative on Decision Making and Human Behavior in Context that will support innovative research on decision making across the social sciences that examines causes, consequences, processes, or context from a behavioral or alternative perspective. We seek to support a wide range of research on decision-making in context by scholars in psychology, political science, sociology, and other social science fields who are pursuing questions consistent with the aims of the Foundation. This initiative complements RSF’s long-standing Behavioral Economics (BE) Program which continues to encourage the submission of proposals.</p> <p>This initiative will support research proposals from multiple methodological perspectives that will further our understanding of decision making processes and human behavior in the contexts of work, race, ethnicity, immigration, and social inequality, broadly conceived, in the U.S. Priority will be given to research related to our core programs and other special initiatives. Limited consideration will be given to projects that test well-established behavioral effects without examining the overarching context or the underlying mechanisms.</p> <p>Research in this area is expanding rapidly. RSF is open to a range of questions consistent with its mission, and has a particular interest in the following research areas:<br>-Biases and Misperceptions<br>-Motivations and Incentives<br>-Habits and Behavior Change<br>-Affect and Emotions<br>-Networks and Contexts*</p> <p>*New: Many decisions are made not in isolation, but with the help of social networks, whose members may be turned to for information, advice, support, or other needs. Networks also influence the way many such decisions are made and have been shown to be important in the context of the job search, college enrollment, voting, other topics relevant to mobility, poverty, and inequality. To what extent and how do contexts and networks—their structure and composition—affect decisions and behavior? To what extent and how do neighborhoods, organizations, and other contexts in which people form and maintain networks shape these processes?</p> <p>_____________________________________________<br>RSF is especially interested in research on the social, political, economic, and psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic (<a href="https://www.russellsage.org/research/funding/covid-19-pandemic">https:/…;). RSF will also accept LOIs relevant to any of its core programs that address at least one of the following issues:<br>1. Research on the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting recession in the U.S. Specifically, research that assesses the social, political, economic, and psychological causes and consequences of the pandemic, especially its effects on marginalized individuals and groups and on trust in government and other institutions. Our priorities do not include analyses of health outcomes or health behaviors. RSF seldom supports studies focused on outcomes such as educational processes or curricular issues, but does prioritize analyses of inequities in educational attainment or student performance. <br>2. Research focused on systemic racial inequality and/or the recent mass protests in the U.S. Specifically, research that investigates the prevalence of racial disparities in policing and criminal justice and their social, political, economic, and psychological causes and consequences; the effects of the current social protest movement and mass mobilization against systemic discrimination; the nature of public attitudes and public policies regarding policing, criminal justice, and social welfare; and the effects of those attitudes in the current political environment.</p> <p>RSF will accept research proposals related to the effects of the pandemic in all programs and special initiatives: Behavioral Economics; Decision Making and Human Behavior in Context; Future of Work; Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration; Social, Political, and Economic Inequality. The following topics include research issues of interest to our core programs but do not comprise an exhaustive list.<br>- Effects on the Economy, Workers and Inequalities<br>- Effects on Politics and Political Behavior<br>- Effects on Immigrants and Racial and Ethnic Minorities<br>- The Social Fabric and Psychological Effects</p>