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 ]

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

Nina Mažar (Boston University)
“Behavioral Science in the Wild: Getting Individuals and Organizations to Pay Their Overdue Taxes”
[ Seminar | Book ]

Eric Johnson (Columbia University)
“The Elements of Choice”
[ Seminar | Book ]

Don Moore (UC Berkeley)
“The Psychology of Confidence”
[ Seminar | Book ]

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 ]

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

Elspeth Kirkman (BIT)
“Defining Behavioural Insights”
[ Seminar | Book ]

Kate White (UBC)
“When Do Advance Gratitude Expressions Encourage Prosocial Behaviours?”
[ Seminar ]

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

Expediting Form Submission to Improve Injured Worker Experience at WorkSafeBC

Summer Roddick & Laura Ruiz (Advisor: David Hardisty)

[ Conference Slides ]

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

Increasing the Completion of Family Plans in Collaboration with Families

Erin Crowley, Caroline Grenier, & Kelsie Wright (Advisor: Dale Griffin)

[ Working Paper PDF ]

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)

[ Conference Poster ]

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)

[ Working Paper PDF | Conference Poster ]

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)

[ Conference Poster ]

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