Network for Integrated Behavioural Science

我们的项目结合了英国三个主要行为研究中心的19位知名研究人员的专业知识，开展了一个及时而重要的世界级研究项目。这项研究有两个目标：开发和测试人类行为和行为改变的跨学科模型；并得出它们对公共政策制定和评估的影响。目前，不同的社会科学对人类行为的基础和动力提供了非常不同的解释。在光谱的一端，传统经济模型由高度理性的个人组成，他们在各种选择中做出一致而稳定的判断。另一方面，许多心理学模型关注认知机制，这可能导致高度情境化的选择，可能经常出现不一致。这两种观点都抓住了事实的各个方面，但要成功地在它们之间架起一座桥梁，还需要做大量的工作。因此，我们的第一个目标是创建一门综合的行为科学，建立在反映公认认知原则的基础上，导致易于处理和有用的模型。第二个目标是将这种新的综合应用于政策。人们对能够反映人们的看法、判断和选择的现实的政策工具越来越感兴趣。例如，英国政府的行为洞察部门利用行为科学的特定结果来制定旨在“推动”个人做出“更好”决策和政策目标的政策。然而，由于缺乏一套明确阐述和经过适当检验的理论来取代传统的基础，这些干预措施可能是临时的，在规范上没有根据，甚至可能适得其反。因此，我们将考虑我们开发的替代模型如何能够产生连贯的、在规范上可辩护的政策指导。为了实现我们的两个远大目标，我们将建立和运作一个国际性的跨学科网络，以开展合作研究，重点关注四个相互关联的主题。前两部分探讨的是基础科学问题；后两篇文章阐述了这一科学的政策含义。1 -了解个人行为和行为改变：基本目标是开发新的和改进的个人行为模型；发展对支持选择的价值观和偏好在多大程度上可以被视为稳定的理解；或者，行为可以如何改变或操纵。2 -理解社会和互动行为：我们将研究在人们可能（或可能需要）考虑其他人的行为或福利的情况下，影响人们选择的真实推理过程和价值观。我们将探讨物质激励、社会和文化因素以及个体差异如何塑造动机和战略思维。3 -重新思考政策分析的基础：本主题重新考虑政策制定的方法和政策工具的设计。我们的目标是根据主题1和主题2的发展情况，从更丰富和更现实的人类机构描述出发，重新思考政策分析的建立。4 -政策应用：我们将通过三个应用项目来追溯基础科学对政策的影响，每个项目的主要动机都来自主题1 - 3之一。关于主题1，我们将使用现有的数据集（与英国信贷公司合作）来检查实际消费者信贷行为的决定因素。关于主题2，将使用实地实验来调查社会价值观的形成。关于主题3，我们将探讨评价影响健康和安全的政策的战略。

Our project combines the expertise of nineteen established researchers in three major UK centres for behavioural research to conduct a timely and important programme of world class research. This research has two objectives: to develop and test cross-disciplinary models of human behaviour and behaviour change; and to draw out their implications for the formulation and evaluation of public policy. At present, different social sciences provide very different accounts of the underpinnings and dynamics of human behaviour. At one end of a spectrum, conventional economic models are populated by highly rational individuals who make consistent and stable judgments among alternative choices. At the other end, many psychological models focus on cognitive mechanisms which may result in choices which are highly contextual and may often appear inconsistent. Both perspectives capture aspects of the truth, but considerable work is needed to bridge successfully between them. So our first objective is to create an integrated science of behaviour, leading to tractable and useful models, built from foundations which reflect well-established cognitive principles.The second objective is to apply this new synthesis to policy. There has been growing interest in policy tools which respond to the realities of people's perceptions, judgements and choices. For example, the UK government's Behavioural Insight Unit draws on particular results from behavioural science to develop policies aimed at 'nudging' individuals towards 'better' decisions and policy goals. However, in the absence of a body of clearly articulated and properly tested theory which can replace the conventional underpinnings, these interventions risk being ad hoc, normatively ungrounded and may even turn out to be counter-productive. So we shall consider how the alternative models we develop can generate coherent and normatively defensible policy guidance.In pursuit of our two broad and ambitious objectives, we will establish and operate an international, interdisciplinary, network to develop collaborative research, focussing on four inter-related themes. The first two explore questions of basic science; the second two draw out policy implications of that science.1 - Understanding individual behaviour and behaviour change: The fundamental objective is to develop new and improved models of individual behaviour; to develop understanding of the extent to which values and preferences that underpin choice can be regarded as stable; alternatively how, or how much, behaviour can be changed or manipulated.2 - Understanding social and interactive behaviour: We will investigate the real reasoning processes and values which shape peoples' choices in settings where they may (or may need to) take account of other peoples' actions or welfare. We will explore how material incentives, social and cultural factors, and individual differences shape motivations and strategic thinking. 3 - Rethinking the foundations of policy analysis: This theme reconsiders approaches to policy formulation, and the design of policy tools. Our aim is to rethink policy analysis building from richer and more realistic accounts of human agency informed by developments in Themes 1 and 2. 4 - Policy applications: We will trace through the implications of the basic science for policy via three applied projects each of which draws its primary motivation from one of Themes 1 - 3. In relation to Theme 1, we will use existing data sets (in collaboration with UK credit companies) to examine determinants of actual consumer credit behaviour. In relation to Theme 2, will use field experiments to investigate the formation of social values. In relation to Theme 3, we will explore strategies for evaluation of policies affecting health and safety.