Behavioural Insights at UBC

Decision Insights for Business & Society (UBC-DIBS) is a behavioural research and policy solutions initiative at the UBC Sauder School of Business that conducts research, offers Behavioural Insights courses, and hosts events and resources, including the BI wiki and Calling DIBS podcast.
UBC-DIBS Behavioural Insights Seminar
Our online Behavioural Insights Seminar Series features an exciting line-up of researchers and practitioners sharing their field and lab projects that use the behavioural and decision sciences to “nudge for good”. Register to attend the 2022-2023 series at https://bit.ly/DIBS-seminar. Recordings of past seminars are below.
2022-2023


Vince Hopkins (University of Saskatchewan)
“How Does Financial Scarcity Impact Take-Up of Employment Services? Evidence from a Survey Experiment”
[ Seminar ]

Erik Thulin (Rare)
“The Behavioral Science of Changing Climate Culture”
[ Seminar ]

Jeremy Gretton (BIT Canada)
“Reaching Nonprofit Program Participants: Developing More Effective Tools by Learning What Doesn’t Work”
[ Seminar ]

Neil Lewis, Jr. (Cornell University)
“Behavioural Insights for Building More Equitable Societies”
[ Seminar ]

Ellen Peters (University of Oregon)
“Numeracy and the Motivational Mind: How Confidence in Numeric Ability Affects Decision Making”
[ Seminar ]

Claire Tsai (University of Toronto)
“Risky but Alluring: Severe COVID-19 Pandemic Influence Increases Risk Taking”
[ Seminar ]
2021-2022

David Hardisty (UBC)
“Twice as Nice? A Longitudinal Field Study of Separate vs. Combined Nudges for Household Laundry Behaviours”
[ Seminar ]

Vanessa Bohns (Cornell University)
“Saying “No” is Hard: Implications for Compliance and Consent”
[ Seminar | Book ]

Yann Cornil (UBC)
“Epicurean Nudging: Increasing the Perceived Value of Smaller Portion Sizes”
[ Seminar ]
2020-2021

Jiaying Zhao (UBC)
“Using Cash Transfers to Reduce Homelessness”
[ Seminar ]

Kate White (UBC)
“When Do Advance Gratitude Expressions Encourage Prosocial Behaviours?”
[ Seminar ]
Note: Book links are to Massy Books, an Indigenous owned and operated bookstore located in Vancouver.
UBC-DIBS Working Papers
UBC-DIBS has a working paper series featuring research projects from DIBS researchers as well as capstone projects from students in the UBC Advanced Professional Certificate in Behavioural Insights.
UBC-DIBS REPORTS
SHIFTing Consumer Behaviour
Pilot Program
Kate White, Rishad Habib, & Sid Mookerjee, in partnership with the Share Reuse Repair Initiative
[ Report ]
UBC-DIBS researcher Kate White and grad students Rishad Habib and Sid Mookerjee partnered with the Share Reuse Repair Initiative to offer circular innovators training on how to SHIFT consumers toward adopting circular behaviours (e.g., buying second-hand, repairing instead of replacing, choosing re-usable over single-use items, etc.) This report provides an overview of the training program as well as case studies from program participants.
Keywords: behavioural insights, nudge, SHIFT, environmental sustainability, circular economy, social influence, social norms, self interest
2021-2022 CAPSTONE PROJECTS
I Saw the Sign! Using Behaviourally-Informed Signs to Encourage Parking Compliance
James Climenhage, Mandy Khoo, & Whitney Queisser (Advisor: David Hardisty)
This project aimed to improve compliance with paid parking in the City of Vancouver. New “Behavioural Insights informed” parking signs incorporated salience by increasing sign and font size and adding more colour. Due to feasibility constraints, the control and BI-informed signs were compared in a quasi-experimental trial between two locations in the city. Although the BI-informed signs did not significantly increase parking compliance, the project team has several recommendations, including trialing in other locations and trialing signs incorporating other Behavioural Insights.
Keywords: behavioural insights, nudge, salience, loss aversion, compliance, signage, parking
Expediting Form Submission to Improve Injured Worker Experience at WorkSafeBC
Summer Roddick & Laura Ruiz (Advisor: David Hardisty)
This project aimed to improve injured worker experience at WorkSafeBC. New “Behavioural Insights informed” communications added reminders via text, email, or text plus email. These BI-informed communications were compared to a control condition with no reminder in a randomized controlled trial. Reminders significantly increased the number of injured workers who submitted their form and also sped up submission. Email reminders and text plus email reminders were most effective.
Keywords: behavioural insights, nudge, reminders, return to work
Shifting to Digital Communications
Amalia Colussi, Dana Hubackova, & Shannon McDonaugh (Advisor: Kirstin Appelt)
[ Conference Video & Slides ]
This project aimed to encourage pension plan members to shift to digital delivery of pension information. The basic “Behavioural Insights informed” email incorporated a reminder and reduced friction; the more comprehensive email also added a deadline and checklist. These BI-informed communications were compared to a control condition with no reminder in a randomized controlled trial. Reminders significantly increased the number of members logging into their online accounts and the comprehensive email significantly increased the number of members choosing digital delivery.
Keywords: behavioural insights, nudge, reminders, checklists, deadlines, friction, shift to digital
2020-2021 CAPSTONE PROJECTS
Increasing the Completion of Family Plans in Collaboration with Families
Erin Crowley, Caroline Grenier, & Kelsie Wright (Advisor: Dale Griffin)
This project aimed to encourage Child Protection Social Workers to complete Family Plans in collaboration with families. A new “Behavioural Insights informed” worksheet incorporated implementation intentions and a BI-informed form used simplification. These interventions were compared to the current Family Plan form in a randomized controlled trial using a 2×2 factorial design. Although the BI-informed worksheet and form did not significantly improve Family Plan completion, data sources yielded conflicting conclusions and not all participants received the intervention materials. Despite these limitations, the project team demonstrated the feasibility and value of using BI and evidence-based decision-making to improve service delivery and outcomes for families.
Keywords: behavioural insights, nudging, implementation intentions, simplification, forms, worksheets, child protection services
Shortening Return to Work Time for Injured Workers
Clare Doyle & Daile MacDonald
(Advisor: Dale Griffin)
This project aimed to reduce time away from work for injured workers who submitted a WorkSafeBC claim. New “Behavioural Insights informed” emails included a checklist with or without goal setting plus pre-commitment. Control and BI-informed emails were compared in a randomized controlled trial. Although the BI-informed emails did not significantly reduce time away from work, the project team identified promising future directions including changing email timing, shortening checklists, and automating emails.
Keywords: behavioural insights, nudge, checklist, goal setting, pre-commitment, return to work
See the Sign, Avoid the Fine:
TSZ Parking Signs in Vancouver
Parinda Chagani, Eva Lai, & Carl Jensen
(Advisor: David Hardisty)
This project aimed to improve compliance with temporary parking restrictions in the City of Vancouver. New “Behavioural Insights informed” parking signs incorporated salience and loss aversion. Control and BI-informed signs were compared in a randomized controlled trial. The BI-informed signs reduced parking violations by 57%. Although this difference was not statistically significant, it may be managerially significant. The project team recommended extending the trial to collect more data, trialing BI-informed signs for other types of parking zones, and conducting a cost-benefit analysis to inform scaling decisions.
Keywords: behavioural insights, nudge, salience, loss aversion, compliance, signage, parking
Encouraging Employees to Improve Documentation
Carolyn Babakaiff, Anna Burrowes, & Maxine Russ (Advisor: Jiaying Zhao)
This project aimed to enourage case workers to sufficiently document eligibility decisions on client files. A new “Behavioural Insights informed” notes template used simplified instructions and pro-social messaging. These interventions were compared to control in a randomized controlled trial using a mixed between- and within-subjects design. The BI-informed notes template significantly increased the number of sufficiently documented client files. The project team recommended implementing the new template and exploring additional insights, like standardizing definitions and trialing new incentives.
Keywords: behavioural insights, nudge, template, simplification, pro-social, employee performance
Check Your Inbox: Evaluating the Impact of Email Reminders on Hearing Attendance
Alexis Gordon, Emily Medd, & Lindsay Miles-Pickup (Advisor: Kirstin Appelt)
[ Working Paper PDF | Conference Video & Slides ]
This project aimed to increase attendance at tenancy dispute hearings managed by the BC Residential Tenancy Branch. New “Behavioural Insights informed” pre-hearing notification emails incorporated salient information, consequences of inaction, and actionable next steps. Due to feasibility constraints, control and BI-informed emails were compared in a quasi-experimental trial. Although the BI-informed emails did not significantly increase hearing attendance, the project team identified several useful insights, including the impact of cultural holidays, missing email addresses, and other barriers.
Keywords: behavioural insights, nudge, email reminder, salience, consequences, call to action, attendance, dispute resolution
UBC-DIBS Community

UBC-DIBS collaborates with the BC Behavioural Insights Group to lead BIG Difference BC, a network of BI enthusiasts and experts from government, academia, and across the public, non-profit, and private sectors in British Columbia and beyond.
- Monthly newsletter: Subscribe to our monthly newsletter that shares news, “choice events”, “choice reads”, BI tips and case studies, and other opportunities and highlights from across our network.
- Regular blog: Read our blog for a wide variety of content, including glimpses of how practitioners use BI, examples of BI in the wild, case studies, topical issues, and guest posts from community members.
- Annual conference: Our free, online, annual conference celebrates using the behavioural and decision sciences for positive social impact across topics and sectors in BC and beyond. Register for this year or check out previous years’ programs.
Our Partners
UBC-DIBS is fortunate to collaborate with and be supported by an amazing network of organizations across sectors.
- Research: UBC-DIBS conducts behavioural and decision science research in collaboration with a diverse group of partner organizations at UBC and across BC and Canada.
- Courses: UBC-DIBS and UBC Sauder Continuing Business Studies work together to develop and deliver BI courses with the guidance of a nationwide steering committee.
- Events & Resources: UBC-DIBS and the BC Behavioural Insights Group co-manage BIG Difference BC with the support of a cross-sectoral advisory board who provide strategic oversight and creative and logistical input for our community-building and knowledge exchange work.
Acknowledgement
UBC-DIBS is located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We gratefully acknowledge these peoples, who for millennia have passed on their culture, history, and traditions from one generation to the next in this area. As behavioural scientists, we also know that words are not enough. We are exploring how Behavioural Insights and Indigenous ways of knowing and being can be mutually supporting. We are also working to add relevant resources to the wiki, such as podcast episodes featuring Indigenous voices and exploring how Behavioural Insights can contribute to Reconciliation.
Upcoming & Recent BI Events at UBC
- Free Webinars about UBC’s BI Programs (Mar 14 & Mar 16)Join us to learn how UBC Sauder’s Behavioural Insights programs can help you advance your career and make a positive difference […]
- UBC-DIBS Behavioural Insights Seminar f. Dr. Vince Hopkins (Mar 10)Vince Hopkins (University of Saskatchewan) will share his work exploring how financial scarcity impacts take-up of employment services […]
- UBC-DIBS Behavioural Insights Seminar f. Dr. Erik Thulin (Feb 10)Erik Thulin from non-profit Rare will share work exploring how to increase the adoption of high-impact climate-friendly behaviours […]
- Free Webinar about UBC’s BI Programs (Feb 16)Join us on Feb. 16 to learn how UBC Sauder’s Behavioural Insights programs can help you advance your career and make a positive difference […]
- UBC Dhillon JEDDI Seminar on Leadership, Gender, & Race f. Dr. Ashleigh Shelby Rosette (Feb 17)The next JEDDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Decolonization, & Inclusion) Seminar will be on “Prototypes, Privilege, & Perspectives” […]
- Dhillon Centre Business for Social Good Research Showcase (Jan 20)Join us on Zoom to learn about new research on business for social good […]
- UBC-DIBS Behavioural Insights Seminar f. Dr. Jeremy Gretton (Jan 13)BIT partnered with a couple of Ontario non-profits on a successful trial, but found different results when scaling […]
- BIG Difference BC 2022 ReflectionsVideos and presentation slide decks are now available for BIG Difference BC 2022 […]