Department of Social Science

Asian Studies
This lesson explores how ghost stories and urban legends reflect societal values and use fear to educate people and influence behavior. We will share some ghost stories from Hong Kong, examine their cultural and historical significance, and reveal how storytellers aim to shape their audience’s behavior. This highlights the power of folklore as a tool for social innovation.

Philosophy, Politics and Economics
Is constantly being glued to the phone the greatest evil in our lives? Do you agree with students using mobile phones on campus or during class? Is the conflict between attending class and using phones really a simple black-and-white issue? How can PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics) help us connect these concerns with social innovation, and offer any unconventional ways of thinking to resolve such a dilemma of balancing classroom learning with mobile phone use?

Psychology
On digital communication platforms, more than half of text messages end with one or more emojis. You may confidently believe you understand the meaning of each common emoji—but do you? Misunderstanding emojis can be harmless in casual conversation but disastrous in teamwork. Let’s explore emojis through the lens of psychology.