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Behavioural Finance - MAN00035H

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  • Department: The York Management School
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23

Related modules

Pre-requisite modules

Co-requisite modules

  • None

Prohibited combinations

  • None

Additional information

Please note the stated prerequisite module requirements are not applicable to students taking BSc Actuarial Science or BSc Finance, Operations Research and Management degree programmes.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2022-23 to Summer Term 2022-23

Module aims

This module aims to provide the student with an understanding of how human behaviour affects the financial decision making process. Through the examination of the link between several heuristic biases and asset pricing anomalies, students learn alternative approaches to finance that allow for investor psychology and social dynamics.

Module learning outcomes

  • Identify the causes of asset pricing anomalies in the context of investor psychology
  • List and explain the effects of different behavioural biases on the evolution of prices of financial assets.
  • Propose several different behavioural investment strategies
  • Analyse the effects of behavioural biases on corporate finance decisions

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) 100

Module feedback

Module assessment reports to students are written by the module leader for all assessments (open and closed) and placed on the VLE after the Board of Examiners has received the module marks. The timescale for the return of feedback will accord with TYMS policy.


Additionally, for open assignments students are given individual written feedback via The York Management School assignment feedback form. The feedback form provides guidance on key areas for focusing upon improvements for future assessments, and ties module specific learning outcomes to marking criteria. This form is normally provided after the relevant Part A and Part B Board of Examiners meeting. However, if a module has more than one assessment element feedback on earlier submissions is released as soon as possible after marking of the assignment element.

Indicative reading

  • Ackert, L.F. & Deaves, R. Behavioral Finance: Psychology, Decision Making and Markets. South-Western (2009).
  • Forbes, W. Behavioural Finance. Wiley (2009).
  • Montier, J. Behavioural Investing: A Practitioners Guide to Applying Behavioural Finance. Wiley (2007).
  • Shefrin, H. Beyond Greed and Fear: Understanding Behavioural Finance and the Psychology of Investing. OUP (2000).
  • Shleifer, A. Inefficient Markets: An Introduction to Behavioural Finance. OUP (2000).
  • Sutherland, S. Irrationality. Pinter & Martin (2007).
  • Taleb, N.N. Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and in the Markets. Penguin (2007).


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.