Behavioural science – The Conversation

Understanding people’s motivations for enlisting can also reveal a lot about the suitability of recruits for the military, given the new demands they face in these roles.

Our research showed reading as a teenager was a stronger indicator of curiosity than, say, their mathematical ability.

Behavioural science explains why and how misinformation works. Understanding some of that science can empower all of us to stop its spread.

Some thought Dan Ariely’s faked data study might be a blow to behavioural science, but actually its exposure shows how behavioural scientists are rooting out false research.

Many well-intentioned people are supporting counterproductive efforts to help Ukraine. Behavioural science can explain why.

Since the pandemic began, we’ve surveyed ordinary people to see how they’re coping. People from poorer backgrounds, ethnic minorities and young people are suffering most.

While stocking up on petrol or groceries ‘just in case’ feels sensible, it can quickly lead to shortages. But our individual choices can collectively help too.

A new study uses maths and behavioural science to understand how your actions during an epidemic influence the spread of the disease (and vice versa).

The Conversation is bringing together three experts in human behaviour for an online discussion about how this virus has changed us, and how long the effects might last.

The EU energy label, showing customers the energy consumption of what they’re buying, can be upgraded to help make more homes and buildings energy efficient.

Putting a monetary value on compensation for grave historic wrongs and deciding who should benefit is fraught with difficulties. But there may be another way to look at the whole issue.

The yardstick of progress is broken. It’s time to stop using wealth alone to measure how Africa is doing.

Habits are more like planting seeds than flipping switches. They take time, care and patience to grow.

Combining behavioural and data science yields high-quality insights from complex datasets.

There is a trade-off between the level of personalisation we want, and the amount of data we are willing to give.

We tend to underestimate the threat of rare events but we can prime ourselves to be more alert to the signs.