PhD Program
Students interested in judgment and decision making, social psychology, or consumer behavior are encouraged to apply for Chicago Booth's Stevens Doctoral Program.
PhD Program
Roman Family Center for Decision Research What We Do
The Roman Family CDR is the home of behavioral science at the University of Chicago.
Behavioral science describes the study of human behavior through the use of systematic experimentation and observation. Behavioral scientists study when and why individuals engage in specific behaviors by experimentally examining the impact of factors such as conscious thoughts, motivation, social influences, contextual effects, and habits. Several disciplines fall under the broad label of behavioral science, including anthropology, behavioral economics, cognitive psychology, consumer behavior, social psychology, and sociology.
The center's work focuses on three main priorities:
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Conduct World-Class Research
The RF-CDR's PIMCO Decision Research Laboratories enable behavioral scientists to conduct tightly-controlled experimental studies vital for establishing causal relationships. With facilities on campus, in downtown Chicago, pop-up labs in the field, and a virtual lab online, we reach a diverse participant pool to produce robust, replicable data that serve as the bedrock for our researchers' scientific findings, which are routinely published in leading academic journals and discussed in the popular media.
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Mentor Scholars and Practitioners
The RF-CDR faculty offer ongoing guidance and support to our next generation of behavioral scientists. These mentorship resources are extended to principal researchers, doctoral students, those in the MBA and Master of Arts Program in the Social Sciences, and to undergraduates who show significant promise as future researchers. Meet our current PhD students and principal research professionals, and learn about the Stevens Doctoral program.
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Serve as a Hub for the Discipline
The center hosts a weekly workshop series, in which top behavioral scientists from around the globe present on human judgment, belief, choice, and behavior, fueling vigorous scientific debates and innovative research. This formal workshop is supplemented by a weekly “brown bag” session to showcase work in progress. Our quarterly Think Better Speaker Series, open to the public, welcomes leading scholars and practitioners to discuss how insights from behavioral science shape society, policy, business, and daily life. Finally, our free discovery center and lab, Mindworks, located in the heart of the Chicago Loop, educates and empowers thousands of visitors each year with insights from behavioral science.
Research Labs
The center's PIMCO Decision Research Laboratories enable behavioral scientists to conduct tightly-controlled experimental studies.
Research Labs
Resources for MBA Students
Booth MBA students: explore the ways you can get involved with the center, our world-renowned faculty, and careers in behavioral science.
Resources for MBA Students
Discover Our Publications
Read annual reports, dive into faculty thought leadership, find the RF-CDR in the news, and more.
Discover Our Publications
Our History
Building on successes in decision-making research, Chicago Booth has since led a broad expansion of the field of behavioral science.
Our HistoryNever Miss the Latest News
Sign up to receive emails from the RF-CDR and stay up to date on behavioral science research, programs, and events.
Contact Us
For general inquiries or additional information about the RF-CDR, please email us, or contact:
The Roman Family Center for Decision Research
University of Chicago
Booth School of Business
5807 South Woodlawn Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60637
Phone: 773.834.9857
Fax: 773.834.9134
PIMCO Decision Research Labs
If you have questions or need to contact the lab staff, contact us at cdrlabs@chicagobooth.edu.
