The Behavioural Science and the Wider World Initiative is a platform that brings together and contextualises the latest developments from behavioural science. Founded within the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science at LSE, the Initiative draws on cutting edge research and discussions both from academics as well as industry leaders. 

With close links to industry and policy-making organisations, the Behavioural Science and the Wider World Initiative provides partnership opportunities to bring clarity to topics at the forefront of attention today, including evolving ethical frameworks, innovation scaling, cultural systems development, as well as the increasing focus on wellbeing.

The aim of the Initiative is to build scalable, interculturally related behavioural frameworks, working with leading institutions to apply behavioural science concepts to issues in the world today.

Areas of focus:

• Ethics of Behavioural Science
• Intercultural comparability of Behavioural Science
• Scaling
• Cross-sectoral capacity
• Novel Welfare Evaluation Methods

People

Professor Liam Delaney

Head of Department, Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science (LSE), Founder of the Behavioural Science and the Wider World Initiative.

Find out more about Liam.

Therese Holmqvist

Communications Manager in the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science. 

Find out more about Therese.

For enquiries about the Behavioural Science and the Wider World Initiative, please email Therese. 

Behavioural Science and the Wider World Seminar Series 

This weekly seminar series, hosted by the Department of Psychological and Behavioural Science at LSE, brings together a network of researchers, industry and policy leaders, students and alumni to discuss emerging, global themes in behavioural science both in the world today and emerging topics for the future.

The series will be of interest to anyone, including students, who would like to delve into specific topics from a behavioural science perspective, and to hear how these topics relate directly to policy and industry. The series also offers a unique chance for attendees to network and find opportunities for collaboration.

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Subscribe to our newsletter to stay on top of the latest news from the Behavioural Science and the Wider World Initiative and the Behavioural Science and the Wider World seminar series, or contact us directly to discuss possible ways of getting involved in our work. 

Behavioural Science and the Wider World student projects 

Below are some examples of projects our students have worked on as part of the Wider World Initiative. 

Should we nudge to increase trust in institutions?

by Annabel Gillard and Kangan Malik

In this blog post, MSc Behavioural Science alumni Annabel Gillard and Kangan Malik explore whether trust in institutions is declining, as has been widely suggested, and if so, whether it would be ethical to nudge people to increase trust. 

2022/23 projects

• Behavioural Science meets AI by Annabel Gillard, Anna King, Isabel Kaldor and Muskaan Mehlawat
• Grocery Shopping App for Nudgethon by Rosie Foster-Carter, Emily Fobel and Michael Intrator
• Cryptocurrency Marketing Strategies and Regulations in a Behavioural Perspective in the United Kingdom by Lingxi Huang and Apichaya Jungtrakul
• Interventions in virtual finance contexts - Buy Now, Pay Later by Enzo De Gaspieri Camusso and Worawalun Yarn-Arpha
• Roles in Behavioural Science by Andreea Stoica and Joe Cradick
• LSE Sludge Audit by Cian Lin and Muskaan Pal

2021/22 projects

• Evaluating Well-Being Measures for Public Policy by Nicha Surawattananon, Francis Raho-Jeavons and Megna Krishna
• Behavioural Science Implications for Tech-based Financial Products and Innovations by Anisah Ramli, Annabel Gillard, Briana Grubb and Meadhbh Rice
• Resolve Conflict at Work for Better Management by Haoran Shi and Boxiang Zhang
• Businesses FORGOOD: Developing a framework for ethical behavioural science in corporations by Annabel Gillard and Bishin Ho
• Considering Cultural Dimensions: A cultural framework for behavioural science applications by Jemima Lowe and Anisah Ramli
• Declining Trust in Institutions: Considerations for a behavioural intervention by Annabel Gillard and Kangan Malik

Behavioural Science and the Wider World White Papers

CORPORATIONS ‘FORGOOD’? The case for a private sector behavioural science ethics framework and recommendations for its development

by Bishin Ho and Annabel Gillard

In this White Paper, the authors propose an adaptation of the FORGOOD framework that accounts for the operating realities of private sector firms.

Read the White Paper
Read the blog

Contact

Email Therese Holmqvist for any enquiries about the Behavioural Science and the Wider World Initiative. 

Appointments

Please check back for news about the Initiative and appointments.