FUTURE DEFENCE AND SECURITY
Sydney
Thinking and Reasoning Laboratory ( STAR Lab )
Overcoming cognitive inertia by helping people to consider a broader range of options when making crucial decisions
Research Laboratory / Facility
Exploring one ’ s options is crucial to making decisions about complex issues in defence , security , and other contexts . Problems in decisionmaking often arise through cognitive inertia - sticking with a familiar decision option when better alternatives are available .
STAR Lab ’ s research program aims to :
• identify the learning conditions that give rise to cognitive inertia
• understand the cognitive decision processes that drive inertia
• identify individuals who may be especially susceptible to inertia
• develop ways of helping groups and individuals to overcome inertia
This will provide significant benefits by guiding better decisions in complex decision-making domains .
Key capabilities
> Extensive experience and capability in running behavioural studies of cognitive inertia
> State-of-the-art mathematical modelling that provides insight into the processes that drive inertia
> Experience in evaluating techniques for overcoming cognitive inertia
Differentiators
> Multiple competitive grants from the Australian Research Council > Large and diverse research team > Access to high-quality research infrastructure , e . g ., eye tracking technology
Key customers
> Military departments , and finance and investment companies
> Government agencies that aim to expand consumers ' consideration of new products ( e . g ., clean-energy alternatives )
Key partnerships
> NSW Department of Environment , Climate Change and Water
Quality accreditations and awards
> Multiple competitive grants from the Australian Research Council
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