Featured resource

• UBC Psychology researchers Joe Henrich, Steve Heine, and Ara Norenzayan introduced the WEIRD acronym in 2010 to help behavioural science start to acknowledge its biases.
  • Henrich, J., Heine, S. & Norenzayan, A. (2010). Most people are not WEIRD. Nature, 466, 29. [ Journal article ]

Longer reads

• The authors of the WEIRD paper have explored this idea in multiple formats, including:
  • Henrich, J. (2021). The WEIRDest people in the world: How the west became psychologically peculiar and particularly prosperous. Picador. [ Book ]
  • Henrich, J., Heine, S. & Norenzayan, A. (2010). The weirdest people in the world? Behavioural and Brain Sciences, 33(2-3), 61-83. [ Journal article behind paywall ]

Resources to explore

• Elina Halonen provides a number of resources to explain how WEIRD behavioural science is and why that matters as well as tools for, in her words, “deWEIRDifying”.
  • Halonen, E. (2024, Jun. 12). “Tools for deWEIRDifying behavioural science”. Square Peg Insight. [ Blog post & resources ]
• Some of the wording in the introductory paragraph above comes from Monica Linden’s syllabus diversity and inclusion statement, which is part of Brown University’s repository of teaching and learning resources.
  • Harriet W. Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning, Brown University. [ Resource repository ]

Featured resources

• The keynote address at BIG Difference BC 2022, delivered by Crystal Hall at the University of Washington, focused on the topic of anti-racist applied behavioural science.
  • BIG Difference BC 2022 “Antiracist applied behavioral science: Using our tools to confront structural racism”: Crystal’s address provides an introduction to applied behavioural science, some of its flaws, and strategies for doing better. [ Recording | Slide deck ]
  • BIG Difference blog post “Reflections on BIG Difference BC 2022 by an urban Inuk: Ripple effects leading to and coming from the conference”: Stephanie Papik shares how Crystal Hall’s keynote address resonated with her as an Indigenous person and member of the applied behavioural science community. [ Blog post ]
• Crystal Hall has also co-authored a new book on the topic of anti-racist applied behavioural science!
  • Hall, C. C., & Hernandez, M. (2024). Antiracist by design: Reimagining applied behavioral science. MIT Press. [ Book ]

Calling DIBS podcast episodes

• Episode 77: “How to make BI projects and partnerships work”
  • Ammaarah Martinus discusses the unique demands of applying BI outside of the lab and in the Global South as well as the requirements for successful projects and partnerships.
• Episode 69: “Nudges work, but context matters”
  • Stephanie Mertens describes takeaways from her meta-analysis of BI’s first decade: Nudges work, but we still have a lot to learn about how, when, and for whom.
• Episode 38: “How can being more equitable, diverse, and inclusive improve the field of behavioural insights?”
  • Sylvia Apostolidis describes ways in which the field of BI has not been diverse, inclusive, and equitable, changes it can make to be more diverse, inclusive, and equitable, and how those changes will improve the science and practice of BI.
• Episode 31: “Applying BI to EDI and EDI to BI”
  • Greg Lockwood discusses both how Behavioural Insights solutions and experiments can help advance equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), and, simultaneously, how EDI can improve BI solutions.

Shorter reads

• Several leading Canadian organizations who work in the field of Behavioural Insights (BI) have agreed upon principles for applying BI.
  • BC Behavioural Insights Group. (2021). Six principles for applying Behavioural Insights in our work in Canada. [ One-pager ]
• Anthony Barrows makes the case for (1) having lived expertise on teams to complement the insights from mixed-methods approaches and (2) inclusive behavioural science environments that promote psychological safety and belonging for all members.
  • Barrows, A. (2022, Aug. 22). Lived experiences makes the work better. Behavioral Scientist. [ Blog post ]
• Crystal Hall and Mindy Hernandez discuss how behavioural science can improve by grappling with structural barriers, collecting disaggregated data, and diversifying the field.
  • Hall, C. C., & Hernandez, M. (2021, June 21). Breaking the silence: Can behavioural science confront structural racism? Behavioral Scientist. [ Blog post ]
• Stephanie Papik offers questions to help us tackle BI projects more thoughtfully, including considering whether the right people and ideas are included and whether we have left room for multiple “good” choices.
  • BIG Difference blog (Nov. 2023): “How might we? Strategies to improve how we work in behavioural science & beyond” [ Blog post ]

Longer reads

• NiCole Buchanan and colleagues provide potential solutions and measurable outcome metrics to eliminate white supremacy in psychological science.
  • Buchanan, N. T., Perez, M., Prinstein, M. J., & Thurston, I. B. (2021). Upending racism in psychological science: Strategies to change how science is conducted, reported, reviewed, and disseminated. American Psychologist, 76(7), 1097–1112. [ Free pre-print | Journal article behind paywall ]
• British Columbia’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner has released a report on the importance of disaggregating data to advance human rights.
  • British Columbia’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner. (2020, Sept. 29). Disaggregated demographic data collection in British Columbia: The grandmother perspective. [ Report ]
• The Environics Institute has released a report describing social norms in the context of racism in Canada. The report looks at how people think and act and how they believe others think and act.
  • Environics Institute for Survey Research. (2022, June 24). Canadian social norms and racism: 2022 benchmark survey. [ Report ]
• Michael Hallsworth describes 10 proposals for better applying behavioural science, including being humble, better exploring the context in which challenges occur, using data science to identify and reduce inequality, and adapting methods to the context.
  • Hallsworth, M. (2023, Mar. 20). A Manifesto for Applying Behavioral Science. Behavioural Insights Team. [ Report ]
• Ammaarah Martinus discusses the challenges of partnerships across sectors.
  • Martinus, A. (2023). Building partnerships between policy and academia for impact. Nature Human Behaviour, 7, 2050. [ Free pre-print | Journal article behind paywall ]
• Winnie Mughogho, Jennifer Adhiambo, and Patrick Forscher discuss the importance of including Africa’s voice in behavioural science research and collaborating with respect.
  • Mughogho, W., Adhiambo, J., & Forscher, P. S. (2023). African researchers must be full participants in behavioural science research. Nature Human Behaviour, 7, 297-299. [ Journal article ]
• The Urban Institute has released a report that discusses different ways of measuring structural racism, as well as their strengths and weaknesses. Although the report is based on the health literature, many of the insights will be useful for behavioural science research, too.
  • Furtado, K., Rao, N., Payton, M., Brown, K., Balu, R., & Dubay, L. (2023). Measuring structural racism: Approaches from the health literature. Urban Institute. [ Report ]

Videos to watch

• Ammaarah Martinus discusses the unique demands of applying BI in the Global South in large organizations.
  • UBC-DIBS Behavioural Insights Seminar Series (Jun. 2023): “How BI can be used in large organizations in the Global South” [ Recording ]

Resources to explore

• The American Psychological Association (APA) has a number of helpful resources on anti-racism.
  • Equity, diversity, and inclusion [ Webpage ]
  • Inclusive language guide [ Webpage ]
  • Racism, bias, and discrimination [ Webpage ]
• Antiracism Learning and Action in Neuroscience (ALAN) has a number of resources for anti-racism in neuroscience and education.
  • Antiracism Learning and Action in Neuroscience (ALAN) [ Website ]
• Project Evident has created the Center for Behavioral Design and Social Justice to build “systems that prioritize human needs, especially in communities that have historically been marginalized”. As part of this work, they have formed a network of intersectional professionals who have dual expertise (i.e., lived experience and professional experience).
  • Center for Behavioral Design and Social Justice [ Website ]

Featured resources

Several episodes of the Calling DIBS podcast discuss different aspects of Indigenizing behavioural science. (The podcast is available on the wiki and on most major podcast platforms.)

• Episode 58: “Include Indigenous worldviews”.
  • Emily Salmon, Assistant Professor of Business and Society and a Member of Cowichan Tribes, helps disentangle key terms like Reconciliation, Indigenization, and Decolonization. She also shares her research on the worldviews implicit in standard materials as well as the resulting themes, consequences, and strategies to do better.
• Episode 80: “The ABCDEs of Indigenizing behavioural science”.
  • Stephanie Papik, urban Inuk and behavioural science practitioner, discusses the power of two-eyed seeing and the ABCDE framework, which encourages us to consider our Assumptions, who we’ve left Behind, who’ve we Consulted, what’s the Data, and are the outcomes Equitable?
• Episode 26: “Be the hummingbird and other Indigenous strategies for behaviour change”.
  • Stephanie Papik, urban Inuk and behavioural science practitioner, describes some of the similarities between some Indigenous ways of knowing and Behavioural Insights and shares ways that we can all use Behavioural Insights to contribute to Reconciliation.

Calling DIBS podcast episodes

• Episode 75: “Questioning assumptions to understand values and behaviour”.
  • Jordyn Hrenyk’s work with Indigenous entrepreneurs questions a variety of implicit and explicit assumptions in behavioural science research and business.

Longer reads

• Kathleen Absolon (Minogiizhigokwe) describes how Indigenous re-searchers re-theorize and re-create methodologies.
  • Absolon, K. (2022). Kaandossiwin: How we come to know: Indigenous re-search methodologies. Fernwood Publishing. [ Book ]
• Fran Baum and colleagues offer participatory action research as a way to improve research iniquities by valuing reflection and involving impacted people.
  • Baum, F., MacDougall, C., & Smith, D. (2006). Participatory action research. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 60(10), 854-857. [ Journal article ]
• Genevieve Cox and colleagues explore how Indigenous standpoint theory can help decolonize social science by recognizing impacts of structural inequalities, integrating Indigenous ways of knowing, and promoting direct application of research benefits to Indigenous peoples.
  • Cox, G. R., FireMoon, P., Anastario, M. P., Ricker, A., Escarcega-Growing Thunder, R., Baldwin, J. A., & Rink, E. (2021). Indigenous standpoint theory as a theoretical framework for decolonizing social science health research with American Indian communities. AlterNative: An International Journal of Indigenous Peoples, 17(4), 460–468. [ Free article | Journal article behind paywall ]
• Denise Marie Findlay explores how Sḵwx̱wú7mesh philosophy can help higher education make strides toward Reconciliation.
  • Findlay, D. M. (2023). Becoming the imperfect friend: Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and contemplative pathways to healing and reconciliation in higher education. Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education, 1(2). [ Journal article ]
• Sarah Hyett and colleagues review the history of Indigenous health research in Canada and outline critical considerations for non-Indigenous researchers in order to promote a collaborative approach that prioritizes the goals, knowledge, and and strengths of Indigenous partners.
  • Hyett, S., Marjerrison, S., & Gabel, C. (2018). Improving health research among Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 190(20), E616-E621. [ Journal article | Podcast interview ]
• Robin Wall Kimmerer discusses how Indigenous knowledge and Western mainstream scientific methodologies can be complementary.
  • Kimmerer, R. W. (2013). Braiding sweetgrass: Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the teachings of plants. Milkweed Editions. [ Book ]
• Margaret Kovach provides a conceptual framework for implementing Indigenous methodologies and serves as a useful entry point for those wishing to learn more broadly about Indigenous research.
  • Kovach, M. (2021). Indigenous methodologies: Characteristics, conversations, and contexts. University of Toronto Press. [ Book ]
• Lynn Lavallée explores the challenges and lessons learned in the practical application of two qualitative Indigenous research methods: sharing circles and Anishnaabe symbol-based reflection.
  • Lavallée, L. F. (2009). Practical application of an Indigenous research framework and two qualitative Indigenous research methods: Sharing circles and Anishnaabe symbol-based reflection. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 8(1), 21-40. [ Article ]
• Debbie Martin presents the Mi’kmaw practice of “two-eyed seeing” as a theoretical framework that embraces the contributions of both Indigenous and Western ways of knowing.
  • Martin, D. H. (2012). Two-eyed seeing: A framework for understanding Indigenous and Non-Indigenous
    approaches to Indigenous health research. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research Archive, 44(2), 20-42. [ Journal article ]
• Maggie Walter and Chris Andersen share a new paradigm for Indigenous quantitative methods, using concrete examples of research projects from First World Indigenous peoples in the United States, Australia, and Canada.
  • Walter, A., & Andersen, C. (2013). Indigenous statistics: A quantitative research methodology. Left Coast Press. [ Book ]
• Amy Wright and colleagues review the literature on culturally appropriate oral-data collection methods for use with Indigenous people in Canada. Suggestions are made for researchers wishing to use these methods to promote respectful and collaborative research partnerships with Indigenous peoples in Canada.
  • Wright, A. L., Wahoush, O., Ballantyne, M., Gabel, C., & Jack, S. M. (2016). Qualitative health research involving Indigenous Peoples: Culturally appropriate data collection methods. The Qualitative Report, 21(12), 2230-2245. [ Article ]

Videos to watch

• Jordyn Hrenyk and Emily Salmon discuss how key teaching tools often exclusively adopt a Western worldview, the consequences of this one-sided perspective, and strategies to do better.
  • UBC JEDDI Seminar Series (Oct. 2022): “The unstated ontology of the business case study” [ Recording ]

Resources to explore

• The First Nations Information Governance Centre share principles of Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession (OCAP) to assert control over data collection processes in which they are involved in any capacity, ownership of the resulting information, and control of how this information can be used.
  • First Nations Information Governance Centre. The First Nations principles of OCAP. [ Website ]
• The Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami share a National Inuit Strategy on Research (NISR) that identifies areas for partnership and action that can strengthen the impact and effectiveness of Inuit Nunangat research for Inuit.
  • Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami. National Inuit Strategy on Research. [ Website ]
• Some of the wording in the introductory paragraph above comes from Indigenous Corporate Training Inc.’s “A brief definition of Decolonization and Indigenization”.
  • A brief definition of Decolonization and Indigenization. (2017, Mar. 29). Indigenous Corporate Training Inc. [ Blog post ]

Featured resources

The UBC-DIBS Behavioural Insights seminar series has welcomed some fantastic presenters who have discussed how they use behavioural science to reduce inequity.

• “Indigenous equity nudges: Creating spaces for action towards health system transformation, cultural safety and Reconciliation”
  • Brittany Bingham shares some of the ways her team is using behavioural science to reduce inequities in the healthcare system. [ Recording starts at minute 26 ]
• “Behavioural insights for building more equitable societies”
  • Neil Lewis Junior shares some of his research about how behavioural science can help us understand and tackle gaps in equity [ Recording ]

Calling DIBS podcast episodes

• Episode 73: “Applying BI in humanitarian settings”
  • Britt Titus describes how working humanitarian settings around the world requires modifications to the standard BI approach, including validating assumptions and identifying leverage points that maximize impact and feasibility.
• Episode 71: “Applying BI to community services challenges”
  • Brianne Kirkpatrick and Ansley Dawson discuss how they tackle how scoping, evaluation, and scaling in a complex problem involving multiple partners, datasets, and under-served populations.
• Episode 41: “Behavioural Insights and Reconciliation”
  • Stephanie Papik discusses how BI can help us understand barriers to Reconciliation, like blindspots and difficult emotions. She also discusses how BI strategies, like disrupting habits and providing calls to action (including recommending the Indigenous Relations Behavioural Competencies), can contribute to Reconciliation.
• Episode 37: “How can behavioural insights help organizations be more diverse, inclusive, and equitable?”
  • Sylvia Apostolidis discusses examples of how organizations can and have used BI to become more equitable, diverse, and inclusive in areas such as hiring, promotion, and retention.

Longer reads

• Nicholas Biddle suggests that applying insights from applied behavioural science can improve policy decisions that relate to Indigenous peoples in Australia.
  • Biddle, N. (2016). Insights for Indigenous policy from the applied behavioural sciences. Asia & the Pacific Policy Studies, 4(1), 129-140. [ Journal article ]
• Elizabeth Levy Paluck and colleagues describe a meta-analysis of studies on prejudice reduction and speak to which approaches are more and less effective.
  • Paluck, E. L., Porat, R., Clark, C. S., & Green, D. P. (2021). Prejudice reduction: Progress and challenges. Annual Review of Psychology, 72, 533-560. [ Journal article ]
• The World Health Organization suggests that using behavioural and cultural insights can help inequities in health and other outcomes.
  • World Health Organization. (2023, April 20). A guide to tailoring health programmes: Using behavioural and cultural insights to tailor health policies, services, and communications to the needs and circumstances of people and communities. [ Report ]

Resources to explore

• Stephanie Papik offers Circle Practice as a BI tool to support equity, justice, and Reconciliation.
  • BIG Difference BC 2019 lightning talk (Nov. 2019): “Circle practice as a behavioural insights tool to support the process of Reconciliation” [ Slide deck | Circle resources ]

Important Dates

• January 4: National Ribbon Skirt Day [ About ]
• February: Black History Month [ About ]
• February 21: International Mother Language Day [ About ]
• May 5: Red Dress Day a.k.a. National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit People [ About ]
• May 15, 2025 (varies): Moose Hide Campaign Day [ About ]
• June: National Indigenous History Month [ About ]
• June 19: Juneteenth (US) [ About ]
• June 21: National Indigenous Peoples Day [ About ]
• September 30: Orange Shirt Day [ About ] and National Day for Truth & Reconciliation [ About ]
  • Moose Hide Campaign Guide to Observing September 30th [ Resource 2023 & 2024 ]
  • Wiki post for National Day for Truth & Reconciliation [ 2023, 2022, 2021 ]
• October 4: National Day of Action for MMIWG2S [ About ]
• October 14, 2024 (varies): Indigenous Peoples’ Day (US) [ About ]

See the Global Diversity Calendar for additional important dates.

Ongoing Events

• UBC Faculty of Medicine Office of Respectful Environments, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion [ Webinars ]
• UBC Learning Circle [ Webinars ]

Resources for Reconciliation

• Map of Indigenous Lands by Native Land Digital [ Interactive map ]
• Online Courses & Training
  • Indigenous Canada course from the University of Alberta [ Online course | YouTube conversations ]
  • Indigenous Relations Behavioural Competencies from the BC Public Service [ Resource ]
  • Weaving Relations course from the UBC Faculties of Applied Science and Land & Food Systems [ Online course ]
• Centres, Resources, & Events
  • Canadian National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation [ Resources & events ]
  • First Nations Health Authority resources on cultural safety and humility [ Resources ]
  • UBC Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre [ Resources & events ]
• Reports
  • National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG2+) [ Reports ]
  • Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) [ Reports ]
  • United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) [ Resource ]
• Podcasts
  • Media Indigena is a “weekly current affairs roundtable focusing on Indigenous issues and events in North America and beyond”.
  • All My Relations explores “what it means to be a Native person” in the 21st century.

Resources for Anti-Racism

• Online Courses & Training
  • GBA Plus online course from Women and Gender Equality Canada. GBA Plus “is an analytical tool used to support the development of responsive and inclusive policies, programs, and other initiatives”. [ Course ]
• Centres, Resources, & Events
  • The 1619 Project [ Resources ]
  • Anti-racism resource compendium [ Resources ]
  • National Museum of African American History & Culture resources for talking about race [ Resources ]
• Books
  • “How to Be an Anti-Racist” by Ibram Kendi [ Book | Resources | Anti-racist reading list ]
  • “The Inner Work of Racial Justice: Healing Ourselves and Transforming Our Communities Through Mindfulness” by Rhonda Magee [ Book ]

• JEDDI Seminar: Designing Organizations for Inclusion (Dec 13)2024-11-29
  Felix Danbold from University College London will be sharing his work on “Designing Organizations for Inclusion” […]
• Resource: Blog About Reaching Non-English Speakers2024-10-07
  The folks at BIT have written a blog post about their work with East Toronto Health Partners to create behaviourally-informed conversation guides for folks speaking a variety of languages […]
• New BI Book: Antiracist by Design2024-09-30
  Former BIG Difference BC keynote speaker Crystal Hall is co-authoring a new book on the topic of antiracist behavioural science […]
• Resource: Disaggregating Demographic Data2024-09-16
  British Columbia’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner has a report on the importance of disaggregating data to advance human rights […]
• National Day for Truth & Reconciliation (Sep 30)2024-09-13
  September 30 will mark the 4th annual National Day for Truth & Reconciliation in Canada. How will you participate, learn, and/or support? […]
• Resources: Indigenizing Behavioural Science2024-08-28
  Check out some of the wonderful additions to the “Indigenizing Behavioural Science” section of our wiki page on anti-racist behavioural science […]
• UBC JEDDI Seminar Series 2024-20252024-08-16
  The Peter P. Dhillon Centre for Business Ethics is excited to announce the return of the Justice, Equity, Diversity, Decolonization, & Inclusion Seminar Series […]
• Calling DIBS Ep 83: Using Mixed Methods to Strengthen BI2024-06-12
  Rhiannon Mosher explains how mixed methods are a crucial part of an anti-racist, Indigenized practice of behavioural science […]
• Resource: Anti-Racist, Indigenized Behavioural Science2024-04-29
  We are thrilled to announce the launch of a new wiki page that we hope will help us all in our journeys towards an anti-racist, Indigenized practice of behavioural science […]
• JEDDI Seminar: Storytelling MMIWG2S & Extraction (Apr 19)2024-04-05
  Shelley Price (Acadia University & University of Victoria) will be sharing her work on advancing the substantive equality of Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIAP+ persons working in the extraction industry and living close to development projects […]
• Calling DIBS Ep 77: How to Make BI Projects & Partnerships Work2024-03-20
  Ammaarah Martinus shares key requirements for rewarding BI project partnerships, including starting small, having unlike minds at the table, being willing to learn from and about each other, and sharing the same definition of success […]
• BIT Webinar on Evidence-Based Training to Prevent Sexual Harassment (Mar 14)2024-03-13
  This webinar will explore the transformative potential of behavioural science in preventing workplace sexual harassment […]
• Calling DIBS Ep 75: Questioning Assumptions to Understand Values & Behaviour2024-02-21
  Jordyn Hrenyk’s research portfolio questions a variety of implicit and explicit assumptions, such as how values are communicated through everyday business decisions, how entrepreneurs impact one another and create market norms, how business concepts are taught, and who can learn from Indigenous business leaders […]
• JEDDI Seminar: Improving Consumer Wellbeing (Mar 1)2024-02-14
  Maura Scott (Florida State University) will be sharing her work on “Improving Marketplace Inclusion: Understanding the Experiences of Underrepresented Minority Consumers in Financial Services” […]
• Calling DIBS Ep 73: Applying BI in Humanitarian Settings2024-01-24
  Britt Titus shares how applying BI in humanitarian settings requires modifications to the standard BI approach to validate assumptions and identify leverage points […]
• JEDDI Seminar f. Catherine Connelly (Feb 2)2024-01-19
  Catherine Connelly (McMaster University) will be presenting her work on “Enduring Work: Experiences with Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program” […]
• JEDDI Seminar f. Rebecca Diamond (Jan 19)2024-01-05
  Join us for a JEDDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Decolonization, & Inclusion) Seminar on “The Geography of Inequality” […]
• Calling DIBS Ep 71: Applying BI to Community Services Challenges2023-12-20
  Ansley Dawson and Brianne Kirkpatrick share an example of how scoping, evaluation, and scaling can be tackled in a complex problem involving multiple partners, datasets, and outcomes that matter […]
• BI Book: Cash Transfers for Inclusive Societies2023-12-08
  UBC-DIBS co-founder Jiaying Zhao, U of T BEAR’s Dilip Soman, and ideas42’s Saugato Datta have co-edited a wonderful new book on “Cash Transfers for Inclusive Societies: A Behavioral Lens” […]
• UBC-DIBS Seminar f. Matthew Davies (Dec 8)2023-11-24
  Behavioural Science Aotearoa (BSA), New Zealand’s largest dedicated behavioural science team, will present some of their work in applying BI to the criminal justice system […]