The Science of Problem-Solving
Catherine Sanderson is the Poler Family Professor and former Chair of Psychology at Amherst College and is often cited as the school’s most popular professor. Her research has received grant funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Health. She has published over 25 journal articles in addition to three college textbooks. In 2012, she was named one of the country’s “Top 300 Professors” by the Princeton Review.
Overview
Even though far more people are killed by cows than sharks, they are not feared nearly as much. Why do we consistently underestimate how long it will take us to finish a project: from cleaning out the garage to filing taxes? Why do we rate foods that are 90% fat-free as healthier than those that are 10% fat? In this class, Professor Sanderson will examine tools we use to make decisions, show how short-cuts in our thinking can lead to errors, and discuss strategies we can all use to overcome common cognitive errors.