How 'megastudies' are changing behavioural science

Nature ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Thompson ◽  
Shamini Bundell
Keyword(s):  
Behavioural Science

Crisis knowledge management: Reconfiguring the behavioural science community for rapid responding in the Covid-19 crisis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrike Hahn ◽  
David Lagnado ◽  
Stephan Lewandowsky ◽  
Nick Chater
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Management ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Behavioural Science ◽  
High Stakes ◽  
Evidence Based Policy ◽  
Science Community ◽  
Minimal Damage ◽  
Support Evidence

The present crisis demands an all-out response if it is to be mastered with minimal damage. This means we, as the behavioural science community, need to think about how we can adapt to best support evidence-based policy in a rapidly changing, high-stakes environment. This piece is an attempt to initiate this process. The ‘recommendations’ made are first stabs that will hopefully be critiqued, debated and improved.

scholarly journals Job analysis: Time for a paradigm shift

1984 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 220-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Cogill
Keyword(s):  
Equal Opportunity ◽  
Job Analysis ◽  
Job Design ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Behavioural Science ◽  
Task Identity ◽  
Labour Practice ◽  
Job Content ◽  
Task Significance ◽  
Identity Task

Job analysis, a major form of job measurement, is essential for a whole range of job related personnel functions and is often central in debate and legislation surrounding fair labour practice, equal opportunity and pay. This article deals with the behavioural-science contributions to the field. Job analysis and particularly quantified job analysis is discussed in detail and some methodological issues are highlighted. The author also deals with job design, i.e. the measurement of job content for job-design purposes. Aspects like skill variety, task identity, task significance, autonomy and feedback are scrutinized. Problems and implications regarding validity and reliability are discussed.

scholarly journals Evidence-Based Digital Tools for Weight Loss Maintenance: The NoHoW Project

Obesity Facts ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
R. James Stubbs ◽  
Cristiana Duarte ◽  
António L. Palmeira ◽  
Falko F. Sniehotta ◽  
Graham Horgan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Weight Loss ◽  
Behaviour Change ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Behaviour Change Techniques ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Behavioural Science ◽  
Digital Architecture

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Effective interventions and commercial programmes for weight loss (WL) are widely available, but most people regain weight. Few effective WL maintenance (WLM) solutions exist. The most promising evidence-based behaviour change techniques for WLM are self-monitoring, goal setting, action planning and control, building self-efficacy, and techniques that promote autonomous motivation (e.g., provide choice). Stress management and emotion regulation techniques show potential for prevention of relapse and weight regain. Digital technologies (including networked-wireless tracking technologies, online tools and smartphone apps, multimedia resources, and internet-based support) offer attractive tools for teaching and supporting long-term behaviour change techniques. However, many digital offerings for weight management tend not to include evidence-based content and the evidence base is still limited. <b><i>The Project:</i></b> First, the project examined why, when, and how many European citizens make WL and WLM attempts and how successful they are. Second, the project employed the most up-to-date behavioural science research to develop a digital toolkit for WLM based on 2 key conditions, i.e., self-management (self-regulation and motivation) of behaviour and self-management of emotional responses for WLM. Then, the NoHoW trial tested the efficacy of this digital toolkit in adults who achieved clinically significant (≥5%) WL in the previous 12 months (initial BMI ≥25). The primary outcome was change in weight (kg) at 12 months from baseline. Secondary outcomes included biological, psychological, and behavioural moderators and mediators of long-term energy balance (EB) behaviours, and user experience, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness. <b><i>Impact:</i></b> The project will directly feed results from studies on European consumer behaviour, design and evaluation of digital toolkits self-management of EB behaviours into development of new products and services for WLM and digital health. The project has developed a framework and digital architecture for interventions in the context of EB tracking and will generate results that will help inform the next generation of personalised interventions for effective self-management of weight and health.

Rethinking public health using behavioural science

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (9) ◽  
pp. 612-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Hallsworth
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Behavioural Science

scholarly journals Nudging transparent behavioural science and policy

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
OLIVIA M. MAYNARD ◽  
MARCUS R. MUNAFÒ
Keyword(s):  
Science Research ◽  
Incentive Structure ◽  
Behavioural Science ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Science And Policy ◽  
Behavioural Insights ◽  
Study Protocols ◽  
Research Transparency

AbstractThere are inherent differences in the priorities of academics and policy-makers. These pose unique challenges for teams such as the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT), which has positioned itself as an organisation conducting academically rigorous behavioural science research in policy settings. Here we outline the threats to research transparency and reproducibility that stem from working with policy-makers and other non-academic stakeholders. These threats affect how we perform, communicate, verify and evaluate research. Solutions that increase research transparency include pre-registering study protocols, making data open and publishing summaries of results. We suggest an incentive structure (a simple ‘nudge’) that rewards BIT's non-academic partners for engaging in these practices.

Using behavioural science to explore patient perceptions

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 463-485
Author(s):  
Andria Hanbury ◽  
Hannah Wood
Keyword(s):  
Health Professionals ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Communication Strategy ◽  
Behaviour Change Techniques ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Behavioural Science ◽  
Summary Table ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practice Recommendations ◽  
Swallowing Difficulties

Purpose This paper aims to develop a behavioural science informed communication strategy aimed at health professionals and patients promoting best practice recommendations regarding the use of specialist liquid medicines for elderly people with swallowing difficulties. Design/methodology/approach The medicine prescribing, formulation and administration related challenges and experiences of health professionals and elderly patients with swallowing difficulties were identified through a pragmatic literature search. Key findings across the papers were synthesised into themes, before being linked to domains from a behavioural science framework. Published recommendations for behaviour change techniques that can be used to target the domains were then mapped to the domains. Guidance on how to develop a communication strategy, drawing on the insight gained from the literature review and the behavioural science recommendations, and designed to stimulate change in health-care professionals’ and patients’ behaviours, was then developed. Findings In total, 13 themes emerged across 15 papers, including “patient and health professional roles and remits”. These themes were linked to nine domains from the framework, highlighting the range of individual, social and environmental factors influencing patients’ and health professionals’ perceptions and experiences. A summary table, mapping the domains and underpinning themes to recommended behaviour change techniques, was used to develop the subsequent communication strategy recommendations. Recommendations include using techniques such as providing social processes of encourage, pressure and support to change patients’ and health professionals’ perceptions of their roles/responsibilities in medicines prescribing and administration, delivered via, for example, an educational leaflet and/or online training. Practical implications The summary table and guidance can inform development of an evidence-based strategy for communicating best practice recommendations regarding the use of liquid medicines for elderly patients with swallowing difficulties, tailored to the perceptions and challenges identified. Originality/value The behavioural science approach is less established within the pharmaceutical industry for promotion of best practice recommendations and related products, yet it offers a framework for an evidence-based and systematic approach that goes beyond a literature review or focus group.

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