Mike Benson

Email: bensonmj@unm.edu
Program of Study: Cognition, Brain and Behavior
Advisor: Dr. Eric Ruthruff
Research Area: Judgement and Decision Making
Entered Program: Fall 2022
Expected Graduation Date: Spring 2028

Research Interests: My current research is directed at better understanding the cognitive contributions to the Dunning-Kruger Effect – the tendency of those who are least knowledgeable in a particular area, or least skilled at performing a particular task, to be extremely overconfident of their abilities compared to those will higher knowledge or skill levels.

Profile: I am a retired Electrical Engineer, and a Doctoral student in Psychology at UNM in good standing. I am in the Cognition, Brain and Behavior Program of Study, working with my advisor Dr. Eric Ruthruff. My broad interest is in judgement and decision-making, and my current focus is the cognitive errors that underly overconfidence. My professional goals are to remain in academia, continue research into cognition (especially related to cognitive errors) and teach (primarily at the undergraduate level). I have proposed my Master’s Thesis, collected all necessary data, completed my analysis and am planning on defending my Thesis in the Fall of 2025.