CAUSAL-DYNAMICS
("Improved Understanding of Causal Models in Dynamic Decision-making") is a 3-year project
(starting Jan 2017)
at Queen Mary funded by a Leverhulme Trust Research Project Grant of
£385,510. The project ultimately will lead to improved design
and
use of self-monitoring systems such as blood sugar monitors, home
energy smart meters, and self-improvement mobile phone apps. It is a
collaborative project, led by Professor
Norman Fenton
of the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science, with
co-investigators Dr Magda Osman
(School of Biological and Chemical Sciences), Prof
Martin Neil
(School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science) and Prof
David
Lagnado (Department of
Experimental Psychology, University College
London).
The project exploits Fenton and Neil's expertise in causal modelling
using Bayesian
networks and Osman and Lagnado's
expertise in cognitive decision
making. Previously, psychologists have extensively studied dynamic
decision-making without formally modelling causality while
statisticians, computer scientists, and AI researchers have extensively
studied causality without considering its central role in human dynamic
decision making. This new project starts with the hypothesis that we
can formally model dynamic decision-making from a causal perspective.
This enables us to identify both where sub-optimal decisions are made
and to recommend what the optimal decision is. The hypothesis will be
tested in real world examples of how people make decisions when
interacting with dynamic self-monitoring systems such as blood sugar
monitors and energy smart meters and will lead to improved
understanding and design of such systems.
CAUSAL-DYNAMICS:
Detailed proposal and workplan
CAUSAL-DYNAMICS:
Post-doctoral
posts available
CAUSAL-DYNAMICS:
References
CAUSAL-DYNAMICS:
Gantt Chart
About
the Leverhulme
Trust
The Leverhulme Trust was established by the Will of William Hesketh
Lever, the founder of Lever Brothers. Since 1925 the Trust has provided
grants and scholarships for research and education; today it is one of
the largest all-subject providers of research funding in the UK,
distributing approximately £80 million a year. For more
information: www.leverhulme.ac.uk / @LeverhulmeTrust