scholarly journals Behavioural science and policy: where are we now and where are we going?

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 144-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHAEL SANDERS ◽  
VEERLE SNIJDERS ◽  
MICHAEL HALLSWORTH
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Cultural Variation ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Behavioural Science ◽  
Science And Policy ◽  
Current State ◽  
Replication Crisis ◽  
History Of

AbstractThe use of behavioural sciences in government has expanded and matured in the last decade. Since the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) has been part of this movement, we sketch out the history of the team and the current state of behavioural public policy, recognising that other works have already told this story in detail. We then set out two clusters of issues that have emerged from our work at BIT. The first cluster concerns current challenges facing behavioural public policy: the long-term effects of interventions; repeated exposure effects; problems with proxy measures; spillovers and general equilibrium effects and unintended consequences; cultural variation; ‘reverse impact’; and the replication crisis. The second cluster concerns opportunities: influencing the behaviour of government itself; scaling interventions; social diffusion; nudging organisations; and dealing with thorny problems. We conclude that the field will need to address these challenges and take these opportunities in order to realise the full potential of behavioural public policy.

The Fragile State

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 704-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Pollock
Keyword(s):  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Recent Book ◽  
Ecological State ◽  
Substantial Portion ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Contemporary World ◽  
Early States ◽  
History Of ◽  
Human Use

In his most recent book, James Scott presents us with a ‘deep history’ of the alluvial lowlands of Mesopotamia, from early domestications in the Neolithic to the emergence and consolidation of early states. Although the focus lies on Mesopotamia in these periods, Scott delves into the beginnings of the human use of fire in the Palaeolithic and draws on comparative developments in Southeast Asia, Egypt, Greece, Rome and elsewhere. He poses large questions: Why did people move into densely packed villages—‘Neolithic multispecies resettlement camps’—accompanied by the plants and animals they domesticated, but also by an exponentially increased disease load and a substantial portion of drudgery? Why did states emerge when they did, despite the fact that the main ecological and demographic conditions were present millennia earlier? What accounts for the fragility of these early states, and why do our standard histories obscure that fact? Guiding themes are ecological and demographic, but also draw explicit attention to the unintended consequences of human actions. Indeed, reflections on the Anthropocene underpin the book's arguments, and, like many others who write on this topic, Scott is motivated by deep-seated concerns about the sorry ecological state of our contemporary world and connections to long-term effects of human activity.

scholarly journals The past, present, and future of ego depletion

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Inzlicht ◽  
Malte Friese
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Ego Depletion ◽  
Open Science ◽  
Science Practices ◽  
Current State ◽  
Scientific Status ◽  
Replication Crisis ◽  
History Of ◽  
Controversial Topic ◽  
Mere Existence

At the center of social psychology just a few years ago, ego depletion is now widely seen as a controversial topic, one of the chief victims of the replication crisis. Despite over 600 studies of apparent support, many are now asking if ego depletion is even real. Here, we comment on the articles included in this Special Issue: Ego Depletion. Specifically, we delineate the contributions and limitations of these articles by embedding them in a brief history of ego depletion, describing the current state of uncertainty about ego depletion’s scientific status, and outlining necessary steps for the study of ego depletion to have a healthy future. To us, the most troubling aspect of this controversy is not what is suggests about ego depletion; but what it suggests about social psychology more broadly. If the mere existence of ego depletion is seriously doubted by many, what can be confidently regarded as real in social psychology? By increasing the precision of our theories, continuously validating our manipulations and measures, and practicing the full suite of open science practices we have the potential to identify legitimate and robust effects and build a cumulative and trustworthy psychological science.

scholarly journals The State of Animal-Assisted Interventions: Addressing the Contemporary Issues that will Shape the Future

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (20) ◽  
pp. 3997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fine ◽  
Beck ◽  
Ng
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Research Practice ◽  
Current State ◽  
Human Animal Bond ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
History Of ◽  
Research Animal

As the worldwide popularity of animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) increases, the fieldis quickly approaching a paradigm shift, adjusting its image to incorporate more evidence-basedresearch and aligning its purpose for advancing a new future. Contemporary critical issues thatconfront the field today include, but are not limited, to research, animal welfare, practice guidelines,and public policy. This article will provide an overview of the history of AAI and the majormilestones that the field has undergone. The current state of AAI research will be scrutinized, andthe areas that warrant further study will be recommended. Special attention will be given to thecurrent state of animal welfare in AAI, the research that has been done in the area, and practiceguidelines that safeguard animal wellbeing. This article will then discuss how evidence-basedresearch and animal welfare guidelines inform the development of comprehensive professionalstandards and influence changes in public policy regarding AAI. The authors’ perceptions for thefield’s future trajectory will be presented, which will include solutions to move the field in thedirection that best advances the human-animal bond in research, practice, and public perception.

scholarly journals The Past, Present, and Future of Ego Depletion

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 370-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Inzlicht ◽  
Malte Friese
Keyword(s):  
Social Psychology ◽  
Ego Depletion ◽  
Open Science ◽  
Self Control ◽  
Science Practices ◽  
Current State ◽  
Replication Crisis ◽  
History Of ◽  
Controversial Topic ◽  
Mere Existence

Abstract. At the center of social psychology just a few years ago, ego depletion is now widely seen as a controversial topic, one of the chief victims of the replication crisis. Despite over 600 studies of apparent support, many are now asking if ego depletion is even real. Here, we comment on the articles included in this Special Issue: Ego Depletion and Self-Control: Conceptual and Empirical Advances. Specifically, we delineate the contributions and limitations of these articles by embedding them in a brief history of ego depletion, describing the current state of uncertainty about ego depletion’s scientific status, and outlining necessary steps for the study of ego depletion to have a healthy future. To us, the most troubling aspect of this controversy is not what it suggests about ego depletion, but what it suggests about social psychology more broadly. If the mere existence of ego depletion is seriously doubted by many, what can be confidently regarded as real in social psychology? By increasing the precision of our theories, continuously validating our manipulations and measures, and practicing the full suite of open science practices, we have the potential to identify legitimate and robust effects and build a cumulative and trustworthy psychological science.

Still invasive after all these years: Keeping gypsy moth out of British Columbia

2009 ◽  
Vol 85 (4) ◽  
pp. 593-603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vince Nealis
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
British Columbia ◽  
Gypsy Moth ◽  
Science And Policy ◽  
Management Objectives ◽  
History Of ◽  
Reduce Risk ◽  
Technical Capacity ◽  
Public Opposition

The gypsy moth is an alien invasive insect in North America. In Canada, management objectives and approaches have often collided with public opposition and resulted in a shifting public policy. The history of this interaction between science and policy is best illustrated in British Columbia where gypsy moth remains unestablished after 30 years of repeated invasions and eradications. The case study provides unique lessons to improve science–public dialogue in achieving common socioeconomic objectives. It shows that despite the availability of sufficient scientific knowledge and technical capacity to reduce risk, the absence of effective risk communication can compromise the effectiveness of management action and increase the risk of invasion. Key words: pest management, invasive species, gypsy moth, science and policy

scholarly journals Three challenges for behavioural science and policy: the empirical, the normative and the political

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
ROBERT LEPENIES ◽  
KATHRYN MACKAY ◽  
MUIREANN QUIGLEY
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Empirical Research ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Randomised Controlled Trials ◽  
The Political ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Behavioural Science ◽  
Science And Policy ◽  
What Works ◽  
Randomised Controlled

AbstractIn a ‘post-truth’ era in which personality and opinion trump evidence and reason, the need for frankness in debates about the use and boundaries of science and policy is high. We welcome the reflective and nuanced approach to behavioural science in policy-making in Sanders, Snijders and Hallsworth's (2018) piece. Despite our support for the approach in this paper, we suggest that there are deeper issues than are currently acknowledged. Our critique tackles three issues: the empirical, the normative and the political. In the first section, we examine what counts as ‘behavioural’ and how this label is used to legitimate a range of policy activities. We then look at randomised controlled trials in the next section, highlighting the extra-scientific dimensions of the empirical ‘What Works’ revolution. Finally, we question some ontological assumptions that drive empirical research and its translation into policy, asking where the collective is to be found in behavioural public policy.

scholarly journals Mobile Banking: A Potential Catalyst for Financial Inclusion and Growth in Pakistan

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (Special Edition) ◽  
pp. 251-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syed Kumail Abbas Rizvi ◽  
Bushra Naqvi ◽  
Fatima Tanveer
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Financial Inclusion ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Mobile Banking ◽  
Over The Counter ◽  
Bank Account ◽  
Financial Architecture ◽  
Current State ◽  
History Of

Almost half the world’s adult population lacks access to a formal bank account and other financial services. Pakistan is no exception and it is also among those countries at the lower end of the spectrum of financial inclusion. However, steps are being taken by government regulators and the private sector to improve access to financial services such as credit, savings, remittances and insurance. The introduction of mobile banking is a notable step in this context. Mobile banking, which comprises mobile wallets and over-the-counter transactions, is rapidly growing around the world and has the potential to reduce barriers to financial inclusion and thus transform economies. The benefits of this platform are even more pronounced for economies with a weak financial architecture and where formal banking entails considerable costs in terms of time and distance. This paper traces the history of mobile banking in Pakistan, studies various models of mobile banking and assesses its current state using the available data to understand how this segment has evolved and transformed conventional banking structures in the country. It also touches on the ecosystem that needs to be built in Pakistan to utilize the full potential of mobile technology.

COMMONWEALTH Forum: The Politics of Science or the Science of Politics

Commonwealth ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
John Arway
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Natural Resource ◽  
Factual Information ◽  
The Past ◽  
Difference Of Opinion ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Right ◽  
Scientific Facts ◽  
Environmental Agency ◽  
Laws And Regulations

The challenges of including factual information in public policy and political discussions are many. The difficulties of including scientific facts in these debates can often be frustrating for scientists, politicians and policymakers alike. At times it seems that discussions involve different languages or dialects such that it becomes a challenge to even understand one another’s position. Oftentimes difference of opinion leads to laws and regulations that are tilted to the left or the right. The collaborative balancing to insure public and natural resource interests are protected ends up being accomplished through extensive litigation in the courts. In this article, the author discusses the history of environmental balancing during the past three decades from the perspective of a field biologist who has used the strength of our policies, laws and regulations to fight for the protection of our Commonwealth’s aquatic resources. For the past 7 years, the author has taken over the reins of “the most powerful environmental agency in Pennsylvania” and charted a course using science to properly represent natural resource interests in public policy and political deliberations.

What's the Message of Architecture?

2014 ◽  
pp. 126-136
Author(s):  
Аndrey G. Velikanov
Keyword(s):  
Separate Entity ◽  
Aesthetic Value ◽  
Current State ◽  
Entire Complex ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Aesthetic

Considers the aspects of architecture as a language able to express the current state and to prophetically indicate the upcoming changes. The aesthetic value of a construction cannot be perceived just as a separate entity, but it can be cognized in the context and not only a visual one, in space. It is necessary to see the entire complex of the accompanying phenomena, all the flow of the unfolding metaphors and values. In the model in view the figure of the author-creator must be reconsidered as no longer conforming to today's reality. The development of the Stalinist Empire style, as well as its transformations, is considered as one of the specific phenomena in the history of well-known constructions

ORGANOPHOSPHORUS NEUROTOXINS

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariya Andriyanova ◽  
Aslanli Aslanli ◽  
Nataliya Basova ◽  
Viktor Bykov ◽  
Sergey Varfolomeev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Protection ◽  
Chemical Warfare Agents ◽  
Agricultural Crop ◽  
Current State ◽  
Physicochemical Biology ◽  
Chemical Agents ◽  
Warfare Agents ◽  
History Of ◽  
Physicochemical Methods ◽  
State Of Research

The collective monograph is devoted to discussing the history of creation, studying the properties, neutralizing and using organophosphorus neurotoxins, which include chemical warfare agents, agricultural crop protection chemical agents (herbicides and insecticides) and medicines. The monograph summarizes the results of current scientific research and new prospects for the development of this field of knowledge in the 21st century, including the use of modern physicochemical methods for experimental study and theoretical analysis of biocatalysis and its mechanisms based on molecular modeling with supercomputer power. The book is intended for specialists who are interested in the current state of research in the field of organophosphorus neurotoxins. The monograph will be useful for students, graduate students, researchers specializing in the field of physical chemistry, physicochemical biology, chemical enzymology, toxicology, biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics, biotechnology, nanotechnology and biomedicine.

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