Prime Minister’s Award for dr Rafał Muda
Two University of Wrocław scientists received this year’s Prime Minister’s Award. In the category for outstanding dissertation, the winners were dr Rafał Mudafrom the Institute of Psychology and dr Piotr Antoni Kołaczek-Szymański from the Astronomical Institute.
We discuss the award-winning dissertation with dr Rafał Muda.
What is the subject matter of your dissertation?
My dissertation, explores the fascinating phenomenon in which language – a tool for communication, thinking and self-expression – becomes a factor in how we perceive the world and make decisions. The subject matter of the work fits into an area that intrigues psychologists and that is close to all of us – how people make everyday decisions and how factors such as emotions, cognitive abilities, or just the language we use, shape our perception of reality.
In my research, I tested what happens when we make decisions in a language that is not our native tongue. In an era of globalisation, where we make decisions every day in multilingual contexts, the answer to this question is crucial. My research has shown that making decisions in a foreign language not only changes the intensity of emotions, but also affects our ability to analyze problems and choose solutions. For example, in moral dilemmas, foreign language thinkers are more likely to make decisions based on cool analysis of consequences rather than immediate emotional reactions. This and my other discoveries have changed our understanding of how language shapes morality, risk and logic, challenging previous scientific consensus.
The importance of my work goes beyond scientific research and the creation of theories detached from everyday needs. In a dynamic world where cross-cultural interactions are an everyday occurrence, understanding how language influences decisions in contexts such as business negotiations, politics or the justice system can lead to building more informed and effective dialogue between people. My research fills a gap in our knowledge of how language becomes the invisible architect of our decisions – and opens new directions in the study of decisions, language, cognition and emotion.
What conclusions have you come to?
My research has yielded a number of findings that significantly change our understanding of how foreign language use affects decision-making. Key findings include:
In moral dilemmas, foreign language thinkers made less emotional and more analytical decisions. For example, they were less likely to be guided by moral principles (deontological) or consequences for more people (utilitarian). This indicates that thinking in a foreign language weakens both emotional reactions and ethics-related motivations.
In risky decisions, the use of a foreign language does not always change the decisions made, showing that the language effect does not work universally in all types of decisions.
In the case of logical reasoning, the accuracy of thinking was lower in the foreign language than in the native language. This indicates that using a foreign language can increase cognitive load, which impairs the ability to analyze complex problems.
These results show that foreign language use affects decision-making selectively, changing our emotional and cognitive responses depending on the context. My research provides new tools for understanding how language shapes the way we think and make decisions in situations ranging from moral dilemmas to everyday choices.
What is the innovation of this dissertation?
The innovation of my work lies primarily in challenging previous explanations of the effect of foreign language, which have been taken for granted for years. Previous studies have suggested that foreign language decisions are less emotional and more logical, but solid empirical evidence to support these theories has been lacking. My research is the world’s first attempt to comprehensively test the underlying mechanisms.
I used unique experimental techniques to separate different processes – emotional and cognitive – to study exactly what drives decisions in a foreign language. An example is manipulating scenarios to elicit different levels of moral motivation.
The results of my research challenge previous beliefs that a foreign language is always conducive to rational decisions. I showed that the effect is more complex, depending on the context and type of decision.
My work opens the door to applications in real-life situations, such as international negotiations, education, and the design of language interfaces in multicultural contexts.
As a result, my research has become a reference in social and cognitive psychology, and its impact is evident in the numerous citations and interest from the scientific community. I introduce new theoretical models that can serve as a foundation for future research.
When did you defend your award-winning paper and under whose guidance was it written?
I defended my thesis on 30 May 2023, and my doctoral degree was awarded on 13 June 2023. The supervisors were dr hab. Michał Białek and prof. Barbara Gawda.
What are you working on now?
Currently, I am researching artificial intelligence algorithms for consumer behavioral profiling and continuing to work on decision-making in the context of foreign languages. I direct research and development projects that cover the topic of artificial intelligence and its applications in decision analysis.
Are you surprised by the award?
The award is a great honor for me, but it is also the result of many years of intensive research work. I am pleased that my research is recognized and appreciated in the scientific community.
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About the award
The Prime Minister awards the Prime Minister’s Award every year, in recognition of contributions to the development of Polish science. The award is given in three categories for:
- distinguished doctoral dissertation,
- highly advanced scientific research that fulfills a postdoctoral degree,
- relevant to scientific activities, including artistic creation, or implementation activities.
The Prime Minister may grant no more than 45 awards in a given year, including a maximum of 25 for doctoral dissertations, ten for highly regarded achievements that are the basis for the conferral of a postdoctoral degree, and the same number for achievements in scientific activity, including artistic creation or implementation activity. In 2024, the Prime Minister honoured 43 people.
You can read about our other award-winning scientist here.
Date of publication: 26.11.2024
Added by: E.K.
