Prof. Magda Osman
Risk Analyst, Decision Scientist and Policy Analyst
I hold positions at the University of Cambridge and the University of Leeds.
I am an Honorary Associate of the El-Erian Institute of Behavioural Economics and Policy, Cambridge Judge Business School, University of Cambridge and a Research Associate of the Centre for Existential Risk, University of Cambridge. I also hold a visiting position (Prof) at Leeds Business School, University of Leeds, supporting policy impact.
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I am a psychologist by training, with a specific interest in decision-making under risk and uncertainty, risk analysis, policy decision-making, folk beliefs in the unconscious, as well as an interest in examining effectiveness of methods of behavioural change.
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I work closely with others in disciplines including: machine learning, management, philosophy, linguistics, neuroscience, behavioural economic, economics, and medical sciences.
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I am also interested in science communication, and understanding effective ways of engaging the public on matters related to social policy.
Research Interests
The ethos of my work has been to take a critical eye to well accepted views and challenge the status quo. As a result, my research interests cover a range of areas that include decision-making, learning, problem-solving, biases, risk and uncertainty, agency and control, and the unconscious.
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My research helps answer questions like:
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How do we make decisions in uncertain and risky situations?
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How do we evidence that good group decisions can be made? ​
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How do we measure risks and support informed management decisions from them?
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What common folk beliefs are there on how our unconscious is being manipulated?
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​Why do some factors impact our choices more than others?
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​Why nudges are not the answer to effective wide scale behavioural change?
Arts Collaborations
