Behavioural Insights Projects

There is a human capital crisis looming in the public sector as fewer and fewer people show interest in government jobs. At the same time, many public sector organizations struggle with increasing the diversity of their workforce. Although many institutional forces contribute to the challenge, part of the solution is in how government recruits. This study presents the results of a field experiment aimed at attracting more and different people to apply to a police force by varying job…

Institution: University of California, Berkeley

Team: The People Lab

Surveys give people an opportunity to be heard and provide government with vital information about the impact of its services. BETA partnered with Department of Social Services (DSS) to encourage more people to complete the Data Exchange survey. Data Exchange is new report platform developed by DSS to enable the collection of meaningful data about service delivery outcomes from organisations receiving community grants. As part of this platform, a client survey enables clients to self-report on…

Institution: Prime Minister and Cabinet (PMC)

Team: Behavioural Economics Team of the Australian Government (BETA)

Online experiment tested two novel public health messages on social distancing. •Messages focused on potential to infect vulnerable people or many people. •Participants (N = 500) randomized to see control or (one of two) treatment posters. •Behavioral intentions and acceptability judgements of behaviors measured later. •Both posters increased caution with respect to social distancing.

Institution: Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI)

Team: ESRI Behavioural Research Unit

Are people more likely to file their tax returns correctly if they receive a thank-you in advance or afterwards? Analyses show that thank-you messages have no effect on compliance behaviour. Why this experiment was conducted: positive alternative sought To encourage citizens' tax compliance (i.e., paying their taxes on time and correctly), it is occasional practice to emphasise the risk of checks and fines in case of non-compliance. One drawback of this deterrent method is that it can damage…

Institution: Dutch Tax and Customs Administration

Normative messages have been shown to increase intention to do physical activity. Positive normative message say that most people like you are physically active. Negative normative message say that most people like you are NOT physically active. The study traces how “positive” and “negative” normative messages influence physical activity intention.

Institution: European Commission

Team: JRC Competence Centre on Behavioural Insights

In this experiment, various emails were sent to students in senior general secondary education (HAVO) and preuniversity education (VWO) to inform them about open days of teacher training programmes. The subject line that most caught their attention was ‘Are you looking for job security, challenge and a wide range of career opportunities?’ as well as a subject line in which a role model was introduced. Where emails mention teachers' starting salaries, students most often click links to more…

Institution: Netherlands Ministry of Education, Culture and Science

PROJECT SUMMARY Students were sent two redesigned emails during the course selection process: a pre-registration email that laid out instructions and procedures for registration, and a post-registration email that notified students if any of their upcoming courses did not fit financial aid requirements. IMPACT The average aid award for students receiving both redesigned emails rose by $150.28 per student for the Spring semester compared with students who received neither email, with a total…

Institution: Ideas42

Team: Ideas42

BETA Survey Series: Towards Net Zero – BETA will conduct a survey series to fill current information gaps and better understand barriers and enablers to making high impact household decisions that limit greenhouse gas emissions.

Institution: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

Team: Behavioural Economics Team of the Australian Government (BETA)

Contact-tracing mobile phone apps have the potential to play a role in controlling the spread of COVID-19, but their success hinges on widespread uptake by the public. We report a study that behaviourally pre-tested COVID Tracker, Ireland’s contact-tracing app, prior to its launch with a large sample of smartphone users. The study was funded by the Department of Health and run in co-operation with the app’s developers, NearForm. Participants were randomised to receive different versions of a…

Institution: Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI)

Team: ESRI Behavioural Research Unit

Washing your hands regularly with soap and water is an effective and easy way of reducing the risk of people falling ill with COVID-19, influenzas or a cold, or contracting other viral illnesses. Stickers and posters were developed focusing on reframing, nudging and habit stacking. Displaying the posters in the office environment led to an increase in handwashing amongst employees. Soap consumption went up. Why this experiment was conducted: improved hygiene standards in the workplace is the…

Institution: Netherlands Ministry of Justice and Security; Netherlands Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport; and RIVM