[ PDF || VIDEO ]

Kirstin Appelt
UBC Decision Insights for Business & Society

Stephanie Papik
Moose Hide Campaign Society

Engineering social change using social norms

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Betsy Levy Paluck
Princeton University

Moderator: Jiaying Zhao
UBC Decision Insights for Business & Society

Social norms are among the most popular behavioural interventions used to encourage behaviour change. Work from my lab argues for the value and necessity of recognizing that social norms are not static messages, but dynamic group processes. Treating social norms as evolving and group-driven has three major benefits that more than offset the costs of the greater theoretical and practical complexity. One, it improves the effectiveness of existing social norms interventions. Two, it opens up a broader range of intervention strategies to change behaviour. Three, it connects research on social norms interventions with theories and research on collective phenomena like social movements and institutional culture change.

Betsy Levy Paluck (she/they) is Professor of Psychology and Public Affairs and Deputy Director of the Kahneman-Triesman Center for Behavioral Science & Policy, all at Princeton University. Her research, which takes her from communities in central Africa to public schools in the United States, focuses on prejudice and conflict reduction, using large-scale field experiments to test theoretically driven interventions. In 2017, she was awarded the MacArthur Fellow Award for her work unravelling how social networks and norms influence our interactions with one another and identifying interventions that can change destructive behaviour.

1. Behavioural Insights for a Digital, Collaborative and Efficient Hybrid Workplace [ PDF || VIDEO ]
   Renante Rondina*, Gloria Castaneda, Brianna Smrke, Rachael Jones-Chick, Sarah Hackett, Julie Metcalfe, & Elizabeth Hardy (Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat)

2. A Simple Behavioral Toolkit for Solutions in Complex Systems [ PDF || VIDEO ]
   Britt Titus* & Marie Stege* (Airbel Impact Lab, International Rescue Committee); & Alexandra De Filippo (Poda Innovation Space)

3. Testing the Impact, Durability, and Underlying Mechanisms of a Brief Emotion Resilience Intervention Among Essential Workers [ PDF || VIDEO ]
   Ke Wang*, Amit Goldenberg, & Jennifer Lerner (Harvard University); & James Gross (Stanford University)

Moderator: Mikayla Ford (BC Behavioural Insights Group)

Track 1: Understanding & Countering Misinformation [ VIDEO ]

1. Countering Misinformation Among Canadian Young Adults: Insights from Focus Groups [ PDF ]
   Thomas Vargas* (New Power Labs; formerly the Government of Canada (Privy Council Office's Impact and Innovation Unit and the Public Health Agency of Canada)); Catherine Guo, Rhiannon Mosher, Lucie Peleja & Gabrielle Plamondon (Public Health Agency of Canada); Angela Mastroianni (Government of Canada (Privy Council Office's Impact and Innovation Unit and the Public Health Agency of Canada)); & Meera Paleja (Ontario Securities Commission; formerly Public Health Agency of Canada)

2. Wrong About Each Other: Widespread Social Misperceptions and Their Links to Pro-Climate Policy Support, Belief in Misinformation, and Public Health Outcomes [ PDF ]
   Justin Savoie*, Nicholas Diamond, Dhawal Selarka, Annamarie Grant, & Brian Pereira (Government of Canada)
   
   Moderator: Guanzhong Du (University of British Columbia)

Track 2: Improving Registration & Response Rates [ VIDEO ]

1. Improving Employment Service Registration Rates Among Income Assistance Clients in British Columbia [ PDF ]
   Craig Hutton* (BC Behavioural Insights Group; formerly BC Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction); Kerstin Behrens-Bolt & Iqbaldeep Kaur (BC Ministry of Citizens' Services); & Vince Hopkins (University of British Columbia)

2. Improving Response Rates for Student Surveys [ PDF ]
   Carl Jensen* on behalf of the BC Behavioural Insights Group & BC Stats
   
   Moderator: Takuro Ishikawa (BC Behavioural Insights Group)

Track 3: Tackling Public Health & Safety Challenges [ VIDEO ]

1. Testing Regulatory Signage to Nudge Safe Chairlift Behaviour at BC Ski Hills [ PDF ]
   Rachel Yang* (Technical Safety BC)

2. Regional Differences Vital for Understanding Physician Referrals to Virtual Care on Vancouver Island [ PDF ]
   Jennifer Parisi* (Health Research BC); Ashleigh Golden (PsyD, RPsych); Anne Mburu* (Coastal Health); Özer Tozoğlu (3M); & Kirstin Appelt (University of British Columbia)
   
   Moderator: Lucy Lu (University of British Columbia)

Track 4: Understanding How People Make Decisions [ VIDEO ]

1. How Does Choice Architecture Influence Attention and Decision Making? [ PDF ]
   Chaoyi Shi* & Yu Luo (University of British Columbia); Dilip Soman (University of Toronto); & Jiaying Zhao (University of British Columbia)

2. Should Advisors Provide Confidence Intervals Around Their Estimates? [ PDF ]
   Celia Gaertig* (UC Berkeley) & Joseph Simmons (University of Pennsylvania)
   
   Moderator: Shangwen Yi (University of British Columbia)

Track 5: Webinar About Behavioural Insights Courses [ VIDEO ]
(In this track, there will be a short webinar plus time for Q&A.)

1. UBC's Behavioural Insights Programs [ PDF ]
   Lindsay Miles-Pickup* (BC Behavioural Insights Group & Graduate of UBC’s Advanced Professional Certificate in Behavioural Insights)

Using Behavioural Insights to Improve How We Communicate 

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Communicating is one of the most natural and fundamental things we do. We communicate to transmit ideas, information, and intentions, and to facilitate shared understanding among individuals and organizations. Skilled communication enables successful collaboration, informed decision-making, and the establishment of meaningful relationships—both in personal and professional contexts.  

Join our panel of behavioural insights experts as they share real-world case studies that demonstrate how understanding human behaviour can improve message effectiveness across audiences. Our panelists will share actionable insights to help you elevate your communication skills by applying behavioural insights to tailor your messages, reduce sludge in your communications, and increase public trust.   

1. Can You Spot a Phish? Preventing BC Public Service Employees From Getting Hooked By Scammers [ PDF || VIDEO ]
   Stina Grant* on behalf of the BC Behavioural Insights Group & the Office of the Chief Information Officer

2. Promoting Sustainable Food Choices in Hospital Cafeterias [ PDF || VIDEO ]
   Karina Spoyalo* (University of British Columbia); Nicole Viduka (KAYA Climate Solutions); Sarah-Jean Dixon (BC Ministry of Water Lands & Resource Stewardship); Liam Devine (BC Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy); & Jiaying Zhao (University of British Columbia)

3. Nudging Away Global Smartphone Addiction: A Personalised Behavioural Intervention [ contact presenter for deck and video ]
   Jay Olson* (University of Toronto); Dasha Sandra, Denis Chmoulevitch, Élissa Colucci, Alain Al Bikaii, & Johnny Nahas (McGill University); Ellen Langer (Harvard University); Amir Raz (Chapman University); & Samuel Veissière (McGill University)

Moderator: Vince Hopkins (UBC Decision Insights for Business & Society)

[ PDF || VIDEO ]

Stephanie Papik
Moose Hide Campaign Society

Mikayla Ford
BC Behavioural Insights Group