131 episodes

A show about the psychology of opinions, where they come from, and how they change. Interviews with experts and deep dives into areas of research uncover the basic psychology of persuasion, communication, and public opinion. Hosted by social psychologist, Andy Luttrell.

Opinion Science Andy Luttrell

    • Science
    • 5.0 • 33 Ratings

A show about the psychology of opinions, where they come from, and how they change. Interviews with experts and deep dives into areas of research uncover the basic psychology of persuasion, communication, and public opinion. Hosted by social psychologist, Andy Luttrell.

    #91: Being a Social Science Maverick with Sendhil Mullainathan

    #91: Being a Social Science Maverick with Sendhil Mullainathan

    Sendhil Mullainathan does a lot of things, and he does them well. He’s a professor of Computation and Behavioral Science at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. I originally talked to Sendhil for our podcast series, They Thought We Were Ridiculous. He was well-positioned to give his perspective on a contentious, interdisciplinary field of social science called “behavioral economics.” But nowadays, behavioral economics is mainstream, but Sendhil has continued to study big questions that cut across the typical academic boundaries between disciplines. We talk about AI, economics, and racial bias.
    You can listen to our full series on behavioral economics here (Sendhil’s voice pops up in episodes 3 and 4).
    Also, the study we discuss testing racial discrimination in hiring practices was first reported in this 2003 paper in American Economic Review.
    For a transcript of this episode, visit this episode's page at: http://opinionsciencepodcast.com/episodes/

    Learn more about Opinion Science at http://opinionsciencepodcast.com/ and follow @OpinionSciPod on Twitter.

    • 1 hr 12 min
    "...Ridiculous" Ep. 5: The Future!

    "...Ridiculous" Ep. 5: The Future!

    To look into the future of Behavioral Economics, we talked to three young researchers who are pushing the field further. A new generation of researchers is striving to understand decision-making in the developing world, how brains process economic decisions, and how bigger, more transparent scientific methods can shed light on basic principles of choice. 

    This is the second episode of a special series called: "They Thought We Were Ridiculous: The Unlikely Story of Behavioral Economics."

    For more information, check out the Opinion Science webpage for this series: http://opinionsciencepodcast.com/episode/they-thought-we-were-ridiculous/
    For a transcript of this episode, visit this episode's page at: http://opinionsciencepodcast.com/episodes/

    Learn more about Opinion Science at http://opinionsciencepodcast.com/ and follow @OpinionSciPod on Twitter.

    • 37 min
    "...Ridiculous" Ep. 4: Behavioral Economics Goes Mainstream

    "...Ridiculous" Ep. 4: Behavioral Economics Goes Mainstream

    Eventually, Behavioral Economics emerged as an influential perspective. It’s become mainstream in Economics, and it’s helped inform programs and policies that affect real people every day. 

    This is the second episode of a special series called: "They Thought We Were Ridiculous: The Unlikely Story of Behavioral Economics."

    For more information, check out the Opinion Science webpage for this series: http://opinionsciencepodcast.com/episode/they-thought-we-were-ridiculous/
    For a transcript of this episode, visit this episode's page at: http://opinionsciencepodcast.com/episodes/

    Learn more about Opinion Science at http://opinionsciencepodcast.com/ and follow @OpinionSciPod on Twitter.

    • 41 min
    "...Ridiculous" Ep. 3: Children of Unlikely Parents

    "...Ridiculous" Ep. 3: Children of Unlikely Parents

    Behavioral Economics was using psychology to understand economics, but what did economists and psychologists think about their unexpected marriage? Slowly, this fledgling field weathered a flurry of criticism from both sides as it doggedly held onto data-driven ideas about economic decision-making. 

    This is the second episode of a special series called: "They Thought We Were Ridiculous: The Unlikely Story of Behavioral Economics."

    For more information, check out the Opinion Science webpage for this series: http://opinionsciencepodcast.com/episode/they-thought-we-were-ridiculous/
    For a transcript of this episode, visit this episode's page at: http://opinionsciencepodcast.com/episodes/

    Learn more about Opinion Science at http://opinionsciencepodcast.com/ and follow @OpinionSciPod on Twitter.

    • 31 min
    "...Ridiculous" Ep. 2: Importing Psychology

    "...Ridiculous" Ep. 2: Importing Psychology

    Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky were two psychologists with big ideas about how people made decisions. Their careful research launched a brand new way of understanding people’s choices, and it helped fan the flames of Behavioral Economics.

    This is the second episode of a special series called: "They Thought We Were Ridiculous: The Unlikely Story of Behavioral Economics."

    For more information, check out the Opinion Science webpage for this series: http://opinionsciencepodcast.com/episode/they-thought-we-were-ridiculous/
    For a transcript of this episode, visit this episode's page at: http://opinionsciencepodcast.com/episodes/

    Learn more about Opinion Science at http://opinionsciencepodcast.com/ and follow @OpinionSciPod on Twitter.

    • 39 min
    "...Ridiculous" Ep. 1: Beyond Anomalies

    "...Ridiculous" Ep. 1: Beyond Anomalies

    For years, neoclassical economists have made an unusual assumption—that people are rational decision-makers. But a few social scientists have dared to challenge that assumption. They’ve collected observations, analyzed data, and presented their perspective. Their work would usher in a new era of Economics. 

    This is the second episode of a special series called: "They Thought We Were Ridiculous: The Unlikely Story of Behavioral Economics."

    For more information, check out the Opinion Science webpage for this series: http://opinionsciencepodcast.com/episode/they-thought-we-were-ridiculous/
    For a transcript of this episode, visit this episode's page at: http://opinionsciencepodcast.com/episodes/

    Learn more about Opinion Science at http://opinionsciencepodcast.com/ and follow @OpinionSciPod on Twitter.

    • 38 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
33 Ratings

33 Ratings

Neurostorm ,

The Best Psychology Podcast

If you are looking for a podcast that goes in-depth into cutting edge research, Opinion Science is what you want. Andy is an excellent scientist, interviewer, and producer, and all that shines through so clearly in this extremely high-quality podcast. It is accessible to those who are not experts (not too jargony at all), while still providing nuanced and thought-provoking examinations of a diverse range of topics. I am a professor and I use this podcast to help stay current with research and get exposure to what’s new in the different areas of behavioral science. I also love how Andy keeps it fresh with new series (e.g., SciComm summer gives a great overview of the intersection between science and journalism). Opinion Sciences is definitely worth your time, whether you are a professor, graduate student, or just interested in how people think.

ratsofNIMH ,

The real deal!

You can find a lot of behavioral science podcasts if you’re into this kind of thing, but few of the hosts are actual researchers. Andy is the real deal! His questions are coming from great knowledge, but he still makes the content easy to understand.

Everything's_Jake ,

Could not recommend this podcast more highly!

I am a big fan of psychology podcasts, so I have listened to a variety of different ones. Hands down, this is the best. Andy gives all the important and fascinating information you could want on the topic, and he does so in a very easy to understand and approachable manner. Regardless if you're new to psychology or an expert looking for more insight, this is the podcast to go to. Plus, Andy's voice is super pleasant to listen to, making the whole experience an enjoyable one!

Top Podcasts In Science

Hidden Brain
Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam
Radiolab
WNYC Studios
Ologies with Alie Ward
Alie Ward
Something You Should Know
Mike Carruthers | OmniCast Media | Cumulus Podcast Network
StarTalk Radio
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Sasquatch Chronicles
Sasquatch Chronicles - Bigfoot Encounters

You Might Also Like

You Are Not So Smart
You Are Not So Smart
99% Invisible
Roman Mars
Very Bad Wizards
Tamler Sommers & David Pizarro
The Ezra Klein Show
New York Times Opinion
Imaginary Worlds
Eric Molinsky
Deep Background with Noah Feldman
Pushkin Industries