MENTEE – David Ng

David has completed a Finance and Psychology double-degree during his undergraduate studies, and is now completing a PhD in Psychology. His PhD project is primarily interested in modelling the psychological conditions that produce causal illusions: a phenomenon in which people mistakenly attribute outcomes to non-contingent causes, and identify ways to eliminate them. Causal illusions are often presented as an in-lab analogue of how people may develop false beliefs in the real-world (e.g. superstitions, alternative medicines, gambling). His work experience has mainly involved research roles in academic fields, but he has also gained exposure conducting and applying research in industry (e.g. marketing, change-management). In these roles he has led several stages of the research process, such as experimental design, data collection, data analysis and reporting.

He is interested in the intersection between psychology and data science, particularly in how we can use psychological theories and research to understand consumer behaviour and inform business decisions.