Behavioural Insights at UBC

Decision Insights for Business & Society (UBC-DIBS) is a behavioural research and policy solutions initiative at UBC Sauder School of Business. Our mission is to improve outcomes across major societal and planetary challenges by improving our understanding of decision-making, encouraging long-term behaviour change, and working together toward an environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable future. We conduct behavioural and decision science research, offer Behavioural Insights training, and host events and resources.
Read our 2022-2023 Annual Report to learn more about what we do.
UBC-DIBS Behavioural Insights Seminar
Our online Behavioural Insights Seminar Series features researchers and practitioners sharing their field and lab projects that use the behavioural and decision sciences to “nudge for good”. Register to attend the 2023-2024 series at https://bit.ly/DIBSseminars. Recordings of past seminars are below.
2023-2024


Anuj Shah (University of Chicago)
“A Cognitive View of Policing” [ Seminar ]
2022-2023

Ammaarah Martinus (UNESCO MGIEP)
“Applying Behavioural Insights to Large Organizations”
[ Seminar ]

Brittany Bingham & Andrea MacNeill (Vancouver Coastal Health)
“Sustainable Health Equity for Patients, Public, & Planet”
[ Seminar ]

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. You can also read our 2022-2023 Annual Report.
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
Using Reminders to Expedite Claim Form Submission
Among Injured Workers
Summer Roddick & Laura Ruiz (Advisor: David Hardisty)
This project aimed to improve form submission rates and timeliness for injured workers going through a claims process. New “Behavioural Insights informed” reminders were designed to simplify language and reduce friction by providing a link to the required form; they were sent at the right time and included a deadline to reduce procrastination. A control condition was compared against three intervention conditions (simple SMS reminder, simple email reminder, and simple SMS reminder plus detailed email) in a randomized controlled trial. All three reminders significantly increased both form submission rates and the timeliness of submission. Based on the results and implementation costs, the simple email reminder is recommended as the best solution. The project team also includes several recommendations for scaling and further research.
Keywords: behavioural insights, nudge, reminders, simplification, friction, prompts, deadlines, 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
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: With our partners, we host BI events and share BI resources (like this wiki!).

With the support of a cross-sectoral advisory board, UBC-DIBS and the BC Behavioural Insights Group (BC BIG) co-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: Co-hosted by UBC-DIBS, BC BIG, and WorkSafeBC, our free, online, annual conference celebrates using the behavioural and decision sciences for positive social impact across topics and sectors in BC and beyond.
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
- New Session Added: Fundamentals of Behavioural Insights (Nov 20-Dec 10)UBC’s introductory BI course is now offered at two times this fall (Nov 20-Dec 10): Wednesdays 5-7pm ET *and* 5-7pm PT […]
- JEDDI Seminar f. Mabel Abraham (Sep 22)Join us for a JEDDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Decolonization, & Inclusion) Seminar on “Gender Inequality at Work” […]
- Register Now for BIG Difference BC 2023 (Nov 3)Registration is officially open for BIG Difference BC 2023, which will once again be an outstanding free and online day of applied behavioural science […]
- UBC-DIBS Seminar f. Anuj Shah (Sep 8)Anuj Shah will be sharing his work using behavioural science to reduce adverse policing outcomes, like excessive use of force and unnecessary arrests […]
- Announcing UBC JEDDI Seminar Series 2023-2024The Justice, Equity, Diversity, Decolonization, and Inclusion (JEDDI) seminar series returns in 2023-2024 with an outstanding combination of hybrid and online talks […]
- Final Reminder: BIG Difference BC conference submissions (due Aug 31)Last chance to submit your recent BI project for presentation as a lightning talk or micro-presentation […]
- Announcing UBC-DIBS Behavioural Insights Seminar 2023-2024The UBC-DIBS BI seminar series returns to cover applying BI to criminal justice, sustainability, and reconciliation challenges; BI tools like social norms and framing; and a newly released BI book […]
- Reminder: BIG Difference BC 2023 Call for Submissions (due Aug 31)REMINDER: Submit your BI project for a lightning talk or micro-presentation at BIG Difference BC 2023; submissions due August 31 […]