The cluster Decision Making for Policy (DEMAP) at Middlesex University brings together academics, graduate students, and policy stakeholders to discuss and evaluate how people’s decisions affect their current and future well-being. The purpose of DEMAP is to position Middlesex University as a leader in quantitative studies on how and why individuals make choices in the way they do and how these affect their social, economic, and political context. Our vision for this cluster is that an inter-and multidisciplinary approach to decision making will bring long-term sustainable, fair, and inclusive design policy solutions.

Why makes DEMAP unique

DEMAP is a multidisciplinary group of research staff encompassing Middlesex staff from the Business School (Economics, Management, Law, Marketing and Criminology & Sociology), Faculty of Arts and Creative Industries (Media and Visual Arts), UK-based & international academics and practitioners. The members are active researchers who are currently conducting applied research on decision making on two main themes: 1) human capital and productivity, and 2) social and political engagement. Because of the nature of these themes, the cluster is complementary to current research clusters. It encourages the study of such themes as part of a whole and not in an isolated manner. This comprehensive approach facilitates a natural collaboration between researchers working in different areas, but with potential impacts on areas beyond their individual disciplines. Hence, this cluster is fed through the collaboration of researchers working on complementary areas, and not through a single-issue agenda.  It responds to the Middlesex Integrating Themes of Equity and improvements in health and well-being, and Inclusive socio-economic development and enriching lives through culture.

Cluster members have expertise in lab, field, online, and survey experiments, as well as in quantitative methods using observational data.  The cluster aims to promote feedback among its members, being approachable to other researchers inside or outside the cluster who are working on similar topics and are interested in using quantitative methodologies to evaluate current or potential policies. As such, we conceive this cluster as a hub of quantitative analysis with synergies and complementarities with other clusters within Middlesex and with other academic institutions around the world.