The Behavioural Scientists

Why are health psychologists' vital partners for good public health practice… As a health psychologist, I'm excited by the potential for our field to support and enhance public health efforts. The recently updated Good Public Health Practice Framework published by the Faculty of Public Health highlights several areas where health psychology expertise can make a real difference: Behaviour Change Our deep understanding of health behaviours and evidence-based interventions can help design more effective public health campaigns and initiatives. We can advise on strategies to promote healthy lifestyles and preventive behaviours across populations. Communication Health psychologists are skilled at translating complex health information into clear, actionable messaging for diverse audiences. We can help craft public health communications that resonate and drive positive change. Vulnerable Populations Our training in working with vulnerable groups and addressing health disparities aligns perfectly with public health's focus on equity. We can provide insights on engaging marginalized communities effectively and compassionately. Research & Evaluation With expertise in study design and behavioural measurement, health psychologists can strengthen the evidence base for public health interventions through rigorous research and program evaluation. Interdisciplinary Collaboration As a field that bridges medicine, psychology, and public health, we're well-positioned to foster the interdisciplinary partnerships needed to tackle complex population health challenges. It's great to see so much growth in this area and I am excited to see so many health psychologists embedded in public health teams. There is much that we can learn from each other and together we can create more impactful, person-centred approaches to improving population health and wellbeing.

How can behavioural science optimise impact in public health? I had the privilege of speaking at the joint Faculty of Public Health and BSPHN event "Optimising Impact: Enhancing Public Health Policy and Practice Using Behavioural Science" on October 1st, 2024. The session covered that understanding human behaviour is key to transforming public health outcomes. Why is this important?  Behavioural science....... • Bridges the gap between policy intentions and real-world outcomes • Optimises resource allocation for maximum impact • Provides evidence-based solutions Behavioural science has demonstrated a significant impact in: • Understanding the problem - particularly in areas where we have felt stuck or are not seeing the desired outcomes e.g. active travel • Developing evidence-based interventions applied at individual, community and population levels • Increasing uptake of health services and managing demand • Improving health outcomes • Supporting the implementation of health policy • Saving staff time and associated costs • Streamlining processes and reducing duplication of tasks • Improving working relationships Applying behavioural science in public health allows us to develop services based on human behaviour, demonstrate real world impact and ensure our scarce resources are allocated to best effect. Next steps An exciting development in this field is the upcoming impact framework for behavioural science in local authorities, set to launch in 2025/26. This tool is being developed by the LGA/BSPHN Transformation and Behaviour Change Leads Group in collaboration with leading academics, Katherine Brown and Julie Bayley. The impact framework will help us to: • Plan and measure impact more effectively • Communicate the contributions of behavioural science more clearly • Identify various types of impact • Support the development of behavioural science in public health interventions This important framework will be a useful tool for reflecting on how we demonstrate impact in the public sector and further afield… I will of course share this when its available, so keep a look out!

'𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘹𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘴... 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘹 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨.' The attached paper is a phenomenal piece of work from Busara and is a must-read for all about the important role of behavioural science. The paper discusses the integration of behavioural science with systems analysis to address complex societal challenges. It highlights the limitations of current behavioural science approaches, emphasising the need for a more systemic understanding of human behaviour. This is music to my ears! A very brief summary of the paper: Key Concepts: Behavioural Systems: Systems where individual choices lead to unintended outcomes due to contextual limitations. Systems Analysis: A field that studies the interactions within complex systems, offering insights that can enhance behavioural interventions. Methodology: A six-step process is proposed to analyse and intervene in behavioural systems: 𝟭. 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲: Identify the target system and objectives. 𝟮. 𝗦𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺:Develop qualitative understandings through stakeholder engagement and literature review. 𝟯. 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲: Focus on promising areas and validate models against observed data. 𝟰. 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘀: Identify key areas for impactful change within the system. 𝟱. 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: Create targeted interventions based on insights gathered. 𝟲. 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲: Assess broader impacts of interventions and refine approaches. The paper includes a case study of applying the six-step toolkit to address gender-based violence (GBV) in Guatemala. It demonstrates how combining behavioural science with systems analysis can lead to more effective strategies for tackling complex social issues like GBV. Finally, the authors encourage partnerships across disciplines to refine methodologies and tackle systemic issues effectively - I believe this is an absolute necessity! This paper demonstrates the power of behavioural science and why our discipline must be seen as a 'must have' rather than a 'nice to have'. Emiliano Díaz del Valle Chaning Jang Stephen Wendel - thank you for this brilliant piece of work.

Over 52% of employees are actively seeking new job opportunities. In the current workforce landscape, absenteeism and high staff turnover present HUGE challenges for organisations. ➡️ Understanding the underlying issues: Behavioural systems mapping allows organisations to visualise the intricate factors contributing to turnover, such as: - Workplace culture - Management practices - And employee engagement By identifying these key drivers, leaders can implement targeted interventions that resonate with their workforce. ➡️ Effective interventions: Strategies such as enhancing communication, recognising employee contributions, and creating a supportive environment can significantly reduce turnover rates. For instance, organisations that prioritise employee wellbeing see a 34% increase in overall employee satisfaction. ➡️ Continuous improvement: Monitoring behavioural metrics post-implementation ensures that strategies remain effective and adaptable to changing workforce needs. By leveraging behavioural systems mapping, organisations can create a thriving workplace culture that not only reduces turnover but also enhances overall productivity. ♻️ Share this with someone who needs to hear this today.

How can a behavioural analysis support behaviour change and intervention development? What it is: A behavioural analysis involves systematically observing and interpreting behaviours to identify underlying factors that influence those actions. It helps to: ↳ Define Problems Clearly: Understanding the nuances of behaviour allows for precise problem statements. ↳ Identify Target Behaviours: Specifying which behaviours need to change to achieve desired outcomes. ↳ Identify Barriers: Understanding what prevents individuals from engaging in the target behaviour. ↳Develop Evidence-Based Interventions: Crafting strategies that are informed by data and stakeholder perspectives that address the target behaviour. ↳Evaluate Outcomes: Assess the effectiveness of interventions and make necessary adjustments. Why is it Important? Behavioural analysis can help organisations and practitioners by: ↳Enhancing Decision-Making: By understanding the factors that drive behaviour, we can make informed decisions that lead to better outcomes. ↳Improving Engagement: Tailored interventions based on behavioural insights can increase participation and commitment. ↳Promoting Sustainable Change: Addressing the determinants of behaviour ensures that changes are lasting rather than temporary. Using the COM-B Model (see graphic in comments) in Behavioural Analysis: The COM-B model is a framework used to understand behaviour in the context of behaviour change interventions. It suggests that for a behaviour to occur, three essential components must be present: Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation. Here's a breakdown of each component: 1. Capability: Refers to an individual's psychological and physical capacity to engage in the behaviour. This includes having the necessary knowledge, skills, and resources. 2. Opportunity: Encompasses all the external factors that make the behaviour possible or more accessible to perform. This can include environmental factors, social support, and available resources. 3. Motivation: Involves all the internal processes that energise and direct behaviour. This can include beliefs, attitudes, habits, and intrinsic or extrinsic rewards. I hope this, along with the 8 steps to behavioural analysis, helps to demystify this powerful behavioural science method for understanding behaviour in context and guiding change COM-B image source (in comments): West and Michie (2020)

What do you get when you cross systems mapping with behavioural science... Behavioural Systems Mapping! When facing a challenge, how do we know... - Whose behaviour do we need to change? - Which behaviours should be targeted? - What are the influences on each behaviour? - What are the interactions between behaviours? Behavioural Systems Mapping helps us answer these questions and brings together the best of systems thinking and behavioural science - using these together provides a more holistic view of how things work. It allows organisations to visually map out the relationships between behaviours, influences, and actors within a system. By identifying causal links and feedback loops, organisations can spot the points where change will have the greatest impact. Why it’s important? Organisations are complex, adaptive systems. To make sustainable changes, you need to understand how behaviours are interconnected and how small changes can create ripple effects. Behavioural systems mapping uncovers these dynamics, leading to sustained impact and improved performance. If you're new to Behavioural Systems Mapping, here are 3 tips to get started: - Start with the Problem: Define your core problem clearly before diving into the map. This helps you focus on the most critical areas. - Involve Key Stakeholders: Bring together perspectives from different parts of the organisation to ensure a holistic view of the system and a shared understanding of what is causing and maintaining the problem. - Look for Feedback Loops: Pay close attention to reinforcing and balancing loops—they’re where real change can happen. Image credit: Decarbonising existing homes in Wales: Hale, Jofeh, and Chadwick (2022).

Give me 20 seconds and I’ll tell you why you need my help. Let’s start here: A lot of businesses and organisations want to: → Optimise working environments, staff wellbeing and productivity. → Make informed decisions that lead to improved business outcomes. → Gain a deeper understanding of their target audience and their behaviours. But they are unable to achieve this because not enough focus is being placed on what really matters… Human behaviour. How can this be changed? By embedding behavioural science into your business and organisation. That’s where I step in. In order to help understand behaviour and what needs to change… I help to conduct a behavioural diagnosis to help understand the behaviour we want to change. This process helps us to identify barriers, facilitators and develop solutions to address them. When you decide to embrace behavioural change, you can expect: → Enhanced customer experiences. → Increased employee engagement. → A significant competitive advantage. My goal is to help businesses and organisations pave the way for a future defined by informed strategic growth. -- 👉 If this sounds like something your organisation needs, drop me a message and let's jump on a call!

No one talks about the difficult job of managing people… Which according to a recent article I read… Has become even harder in recent years. Here’s why: Managers have several responsibilities which include: - Focusing on performance management and training. - Staying updated with customer and product needs. - Coordinating leadership initiatives. - Supervising time and expenses. But what does this lead to? Disengaged managers. An alarming statistic is that only 3 in 10 managers globally feel interested and engaged in their jobs. The truth is, managers and leaders can have a HUGE impact on the mental health of their employees. It all starts with taking the time to understand their behaviour patterns and thinking process. When managers remained engaged with their team, it will allow them to: - Build a supportive environment. - Bounce off each other’s strengths. - Drive creativity and innovation consistently. What are some of the other benefits of having an engaged manager? Let me hear your thoughts in the comments! 👇