Thinking and Deciding

The fifth edition of the classic text Thinking and Deciding updates the broad overview of the field of judgments and decisions offered in previous editions. It covers the normative standards used to evaluate conclusions, such as logic, probability, and various forms of utility theory. It explains descriptive accounts of departures from these standards, largely in terms of principles of cognitive psychology, emphasizing the distinction between search processes and inferences. Chapters cover decisions under risk, decision analysis, moral decisions and social dilemmas, and decisions about the future. Although the book assumes no particular prerequisites beyond introductory high-school algebra, it is most suited to advanced undergraduates, early graduate students, and active researchers in related fields, such as business, politics, law, medicine, economics, and philosophy.

Table of Contents:
Preface; Part I. Thinking in General: 1. What is thinking?; 2. The study of thinking; 3. Rationality; 4. Logic; Part II. Probability and Belief: 5. Normative theory of probability; 6. Descriptive theory of probability judgment; 7. Hypothesis testing; 8. Judgment of correlation and contingency; 9. Actively open-minded thinking (AOT); Part III. Decisions and Plans: 10. Choice under uncertainty: normative theory; 11. Choice under uncertainty: descriptive theory; 12. Risk; 13. Choice under certainty; 14. Utility measurement; 15. Decision analysis and values; 16. Quantitative judgment; 17. Moral judgment and choice; 18. Fairness and justice; 19. Social dilemmas: cooperation v. defection; 20. Decisions about the future; Index.

About the Author :
Jonathan Baron has a BA in Psychology from Harvard and a PhD in Experimental Psychology from the University of Michigan, USA. He has published over 200 papers and several books, including Rationality and Intelligence (1985), Morality and Rational Choice (1993), Judgment Misguided (1998), and Against Bioethics (2006). From 1974 to 2013, he taught at the University of Pennsylvania, USA, where he advised 32 PhD students. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Psychonomic Society, and the Society of Experimental Psychologists (among other groups). He is founding editor and current co-editor of Judgment and Decision Making (2006).

Review :
'This is the definitive textbook on decision making, reflecting Baron's unmatched combination of intellectual breadth and precision. Grounded in fundamentals, this book integrates seamlessly across disciplines and incorporates the most important new ideas. It's an ideal introduction for students and a vital reference for seasoned scholars - a remarkable achievement.' Joshua Greene, Harvard University, USA 'Jon Baron's fifth edition of Thinking and Deciding provides an update to his excellent and thoughtful integration of the decision making literature, and what has evolved into the field of behavioral economics. Baron is rigorous and insightful. The world would be better off if more people read his comprehensive book.' Max H. Bazerman, Harvard Business School, USA 'This clearly written and engaging book comprehensively reviews the major theories and findings in the field of judgment and decision making. It reminds me of all I have forgotten and all I haven't learned. I will study it carefully to learn more about a field I thought I knew well.' Paul Slovic, University of Oregon, USA 'Jon Baron has an encyclopedic command of judgment and decision making literature. It is on full display in this remarkably engaging overview of the field.' Barbara Mellers, University of Pennsylvania, USA 'This book, by a leading researcher in the field, offers an original perspective on the link between cognition and choice. In a somewhat historical perspective, Baron reviews fundamental issues in research on decision making, showing how old established findings, as well as new ones fit within the same schemes.' Ilana Ritov, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel 'For 35 years, Thinking and Deciding has set the intellectual and pedagogical standard for presenting a field that has grown dramatically in importance since the first edition. The new edition maintains these high standards. It is thorough, thoughtful, insightful, clear, and comprehensive. It does not shy away from discussing important issues about which there is disagreement. I cannot imagine a better way to educate students - and their teachers - than to have them read this book.' Barry Schwartz, University of California, Berkeley, USA