Dr James Yearsley

Overview

I work in the field of mathematical psychology, specifically trying to build and test computational models of non-normative decision making. These can be anything from simple perceptual decisions about shapes or moving dots, to much more complex choices, such as how to split a windfall between yourself and a charity. In many such decisions people don't always behave rationally.

I am particularly interested in models of human decision making based on the mathematics of quantum theory. These models try to explain different types of decision making errors as arising from a more general issue with the way events are represented in the brain. More generally my work tries to uncover the mechanisms that underlie decision making errors and biases, with the aim of predicting when people are likely to make errors, in order to help them make better choices.

One of the themes in my research is building and testing models of behavior, rather than just performing statistical tests on data. This can help us achieve a better understanding of the processes underlying human reasoning, but it brings its own set of challenges. I am therefore also interested in issues such as model fitting and model comparison using Bayesian methods. Some of my recent work has involved fitting models of serial recall using approximate Bayesian computation methods, which had previously never been quantitatively fit to data before.

Recently, I have collaborated on projects applying cognitive modelling techniques to answer questions in clinical and social psychology, where the use of formal models is still relatively uncommon.

I currently teach one half of the first year quantitative methods course, PS1007. I also teach on the first year cognitive approaches to mind and behaviour module, PS1003. In addition I provide additional maths support to new undergraduate students to help them tackle the research methods modules in the first year.

Qualifications

• PhD, Imperial College London, United Kingdom, Oct 2007 – Sep 2011
• MSci, Imperial College London, United Kingdom, Oct 2003 – Jul 2007

Employment

• Senior Lecturer, City, University of London, Aug 2020 – present
• Lecturer, Department of Psychology, City, University of London, Oct 2017 – Sep 2020
• Postdoctoral Research Associate, Vanderbilt University, Nov 2015 – Sep 2017
• Postdoctoral Research Associate, City, University of London, Oct 2013 – Oct 2015
• Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Cambridge, Oct 2011 – Sep 2013

Publications by category