5 Behavioral Economics Research Skills at UC Berkeley: Davina’s Story

Defined by UC Berkeley, behavioral economics offers “an important perspective on how information impacts human behavior.” In other words, the field explores why people make choices that don’t always seem rational.

For students like you who are interested in tackling real-world problems, behavioral economics offers impactful tools to understand how emotions, biases, and social factors influence and shape economic behavior. 

Sophomore Davina Yashar realized this firsthand as a student at UC Berkeley. Through her Polygence Research Mentorship Program project and her economics coursework, she developed skills that go far beyond textbook theory. 

Her journey is an excellent example of how behavioral economics research can prepare you to solve complex social challenges, all while building the analytical thinking colleges and employers love to see.

Core Concepts Every Behavioral Economics Student Encounters

While Davina’s story illustrates how research can be creative and interdisciplinary, there are also some foundational concepts students encounter in behavioral economics coursework:

• System 1 vs. System 2 Thinking – Quick, intuitive judgments vs. slower, more deliberate reasoning.

• Heuristics and Biases – Mental shortcuts (like availability or confirmation bias) that simplify decisions but often lead to errors.

• Bounded Rationality & Willpower – The idea that people make decisions under constraints of time, information, and self-control.

• Information Avoidance – Sometimes, people actively avoid facts (e.g., not checking a credit card bill) because it’s emotionally easier.

Learning these theories helps students like Davina recognize where traditional economic models fall short—and how to design better experiments and interventions.

Why Behavioral Economics Research Matters at UC Berkeley

We often think of behavioral economics as a matter of supply and demand curves, but the reality is anything but. 

At UC Berkeley, the program integrates psychology, business, and mathematics to help you understand human behavior, but in an economic context. As Davina explains, "I love how economics here is a mix of math, business, and psychology."

This interdisciplinary approach serves as a helpful stepping stone for students who are interested in exploring real social and economic challenges, rather than just numbers laid out on a spreadsheet. 

Davina’s Polygence project, for instance, had her create an art-based mental health coloring book for children. While this might not seem like true-blue economics at first glance, it demonstrates applied behavioral research in action. She studied how visual tools can influence emotional well-being and decision-making in young minds.

Davina’s project aside, the skills you develop through behavioral economics research extend beyond academic success. They prepare you to analyze consumer behavior, understand market psychology, and develop solutions that account for human irrationality. These abilities are increasingly valuable in just about any field, whether you’re working in public policy or in a tech startup.

Common Challenges Behavioral Economics Students Face

In a moment, we’ll explain some of the skills you’ll gain as a behavioral economics student, but first, let’s talk about roadblocks. No journey worth taking is without them, and as a student in this field, there are a few challenges you’ll likely come up against.

First, balancing quantitative and qualitative research methods can feel overwhelming. You'll need to crunch numbers while also interpreting human behavior patterns. Many students struggle with this dual approach initially, and it admittedly takes some getting used to.

You’ll also find that understanding interdisciplinary theories and models requires you to think across academic boundaries. You're not just learning economics or psychology; you're mastering how they intersect. 

Finding ways to translate your research into practical solutions can test and drain your creativity and critical thinking. Academic theories need to be translated into actionable insights, which is easier said than done and tends to require extensive practice and mentorship.

Then there are the challenges you’ll face as a college student of any academic major. You need to find ways to manage your workload alongside extracurricular activities, like internships and clubs. This is a skill that demands excellent time management. UC Berkeley offers incredible opportunities, but you need to balance them strategically if you want to succeed.

Research Rigor and Methods in Behavioral Economics

One of the most important things students learn at Berkeley is that behavioral economics is not only creative—it’s also rigorous science.

This means:

• Designing controlled experiments that isolate decision-making biases.

• Using both quantitative data (surveys, experiments, big data) and qualitative insights (interviews, case studies).

• Being aware of ethical implications, since influencing behavior comes with responsibility.

For Davina, this rigor meant testing her coloring book project with real users, learning not just whether it worked, but why it worked.

Davina’s 5 Key Behavioral Economics Research Skills

Without further ado, here are five skills Davina honed as a UC Berkeley economics major, ones she found invaluable as part of her research:

Critical Reading of Academic Papers

Academic research papers can feel overwhelming and intimidating, especially when you’re just starting out and have never written anything more than a five-paragraph essay. 

Davina learned how to break down complex research into actionable insights through her Polygence mentorship."My mentor was a PhD student in psychology. She helped me work through lengthy research papers, breaking them down to find what I needed."

This skill is so complex and difficult to master because it involves so much more than just reading. You learn to identify key findings, understand methodology, and evaluate the strength of conclusions. You also develop the ability to synthesize information from multiple sources to support your own research questions.

At UC Berkeley, professors expect you to engage critically with academic literature. The skill Davina developed through her research program mentors gave her a significant advantage in her economics coursework.

Creativity in Research Application

Traditional economics often focuses on mathematical models and theoretical frameworks. Behavioral economics, however, requires creative thinking to understand human complexity. Davina's coloring book project is a beautiful example of this creativity in action.

"About three years ago, I wanted to create an art-based mental health tool for kids to help them learn about emotions," she explains. "I had always used art as a therapeutic tool for my own mental health, and I wanted to share that with others."

Her project combined artistic expression with evidence-based research methods. She wasn’t just creating a coloring book, after all. For this project to work the way she wanted it to, she also had to research the psychological principles behind art therapy and test her approach with real users, including her own little sister.

This creative problem-solving transfers directly to behavioral economics research. You might design experiments to test consumer behavior, develop new ways to measure decision-making biases, or create interventions that help people make better financial choices.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Behavioral economics thrives on diverse perspectives. Davina experienced this firsthand in her Challenge Lab class at UC Berkeley. "I was matched with people in data science and computer science, and I brought the business and econ side. We created a business- and tech-forward solution for mental health."

Working across disciplines teaches you to communicate complex ideas to people with different expertise. You learn to value what each perspective brings to the table while contributing your own unique insights.

As you advance in your studies and career, you’ll find this skill to be incredibly precious, as real-world problems rarely fit neatly into a single academic department. Climate change, healthcare, and financial inequality are all examples of fields that require interdisciplinary approaches…and are fields that behavioral economists are uniquely positioned to contribute to.

Communication and Storytelling

Research means nothing if you can't communicate it effectively. Without the right translation of what you’ve learned, it’s just data on paper. 

Davina learned this through her application process to become an economics major at UC Berkeley and continues to apply it in her academic work. She used her coloring book project to "convey your passion through a story" in her UC Berkeley application.

"Your project doesn't have to just be a line in the extracurricular section—it can show what you're passionate about and what you want to do in college," she advises.

Effective communication in behavioral economics involves translating complex research findings into insights that non-experts can understand and act upon. 

You learn to use data visualization, compelling narratives, and clear explanations to make your research accessible to anyone, something that’s important whether you're presenting research findings, writing policy recommendations, or pitching a startup idea to investors.

Openness to Growth and New Experiences

Perhaps the most important skill Davina developed is intellectual flexibility. "You have to be very open-minded. I came here as a psychology major and now I'm in economics—two very different fields."

This openness allowed her to discover new passions and adapt her academic path. She didn't abandon her interest in mental health and creativity. Instead, she found new ways to pursue these interests through behavioral economics.

"Two years ago, I was a different person than I am now, and I'm very proud of who I've become here at Berkeley," she reflects.

UC Berkeley’s Place in Behavioral Economics

UC Berkeley is home to a vibrant behavioral economics community that blends coursework, labs, and student initiatives. Students have access to:

• Faculty pioneers who are pushing the field forward in both theory and applied research.

• Labs and incubators where ideas can move from classroom concepts to market-ready solutions.

• Student groups like the Berkeley Economic Review give undergraduates a voice in economic research conversations.

Davina’s journey shows how Berkeley’s ecosystem makes it possible to merge creativity with academic rigor—an environment where behavioral economics is not just studied, but lived.

How Davina Navigates UC Berkeley’s Ecosystem

UC Berkeley offers incredible resources for behavioral economics students, but you need to know how to access them. Davina actively participates in organizations like the Berkeley Economic Review, which connects her with peers and provides publishing opportunities.

She also engages with startup incubators and innovation labs on campus. "There are so many startups and incubators on campus that offer a lot of opportunities to get the business side of economics."

Balancing internships with coursework requires strategic planning. Davina currently works as an Investments Intern at RRG Capital Management while maintaining her academic commitments. This experience helps her understand how behavioral economics principles apply in real financial markets.

Advice for Aspiring Behavioral Economics Students

Davina's journey offers several key insights for students interested in behavioral economics research.

First, leverage your unique passions and experiences in your applications. Don't try to fit into what you think colleges want to see. Instead, show how your individual interests can contribute to behavioral economics research.

"I think the best way to approach it is to convey your passion through a story," Davina suggests. Your background in art, sports, volunteering, or any other area can provide valuable perspectives on human behavior.

Second, remain open-minded about your academic and extracurricular exploration. You might discover interests you never knew you had. Davina's shift from psychology to economics led to new opportunities she couldn't have imagined initially.

Third, actively seek mentorship and collaborate broadly. Whether through formal programs like Polygence Pods or informal connections on campus, mentorship accelerates your learning and opens doors to new opportunities.

Finally, don't wait until college to start developing research skills. It’s never too early. A great way for high school students to begin building these abilities, again, is through programs like Polygence.

Building Behavioral Economics Research Skills for the Future

The field of behavioral economics continues to grow as organizations recognize the importance of understanding human psychology in economic decision-making. When you take the time to develop these five key research skills, you’ll position yourself to contribute meaningfully (and in ways that matter to you) to this exciting field while building a foundation for lifelong learning and adaptability.

Remember Davina's advice: stay open-minded, pursue your passions with academic rigor, and don't be afraid to integrate your creativity with data-driven approaches. 

The world needs behavioral economists who can bridge the gap between human psychology and economic reality. Your unique perspective and carefully developed research skills can make that contribution possible.