DEFRA Behavioural science and Net Zero ESRC Policy Fellowship
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: Clinical Health and Educational Psych
Abstract
Each fellowship will last up to 18 months to cover a three-month inception phase for set up activity, followed by a 6-12-month placement with the host organisation, and concluding with an impact phase lasting up to three months.
Fellows will co-design projects and activities with their host and produce analysis to inform government decision-making across a range of policy priorities. Fellows will also engage across the host organisation, building effective working relationships and supporting wider knowledge exchange with researchers. This will be supported through their embedded role within the host organisation, including line management support.
Fellows will co-design projects and activities with their host and produce analysis to inform government decision-making across a range of policy priorities. Fellows will also engage across the host organisation, building effective working relationships and supporting wider knowledge exchange with researchers. This will be supported through their embedded role within the host organisation, including line management support.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Joanna Hale (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Department For Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
(2023)
Barriers to the use of timber in construction: A behavioural systems mapping project using the System Effects method
Department For Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
(2023)
Barriers and enablers to reducing plate waste in hospitality settings: A behavioural systems mapping project using the System Effects method
| Description | A survey was carried out to investigate what things can lead to or help prevent plate waste behaviour, from the perspective of people working in hospitality venues (pubs, cafés and restaurants). It used a qualitative approach, in which 206 hospitality workers created mind maps of what affects plate waste from their experience. The study found that the main perceived barriers to reducing plate waste included serving customers unwanted sides and garnishes, and serving portions that are too large. The top perceived ways of preventing plate waste included providing more appropriate portions and more flexible menu options. These findings align closely with responses in another survey published in 2023 by the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP). https://sciencesearch.defra.gov.uk/ProjectDetails?ProjectId=21323 Another survey investigated what things hinder the use of timber in construction in England, from the perspectives of professionals in a variety of construction roles (design, supply, engineering, building, commissioning, finance/insurance). It used a qualitative approach, in which 76 respondents created mind maps of barriers to building with timber, based on their experience. The main perceived barriers to building with structural timber included a lack of knowledge and skill across the construction sector, perceived costs, perceived fire risks, and problems with materials supply. Barriers to using English wood products (instead of imported options) included costs, quality, supply, and a lack of forest area and knowledge about tree species. The findings suggests that increasing the safe and sustainable use of timber in construction may require a joined-up shift in practices by a range of stakeholders across the sector. https://sciencesearch.defra.gov.uk/ProjectDetails?ProjectId=21391 Similar types of insights were sought and achieved through a survey about what encourages or discourages people to burn solid fuels in their home (e.g. in log burners). Work funded through this award also led to a dashboard providing Defra with an overview of behavioural science projects and evidence across their different areas of work. |
| Exploitation Route | This work was carried out for Defra, who might use the findings to inform the development of plans and policies, and to build capacity in using systems-based research methods. The findings of the survey about timber helped to inform Defra's Timber in Construction Roadmap (2023). The survey about plate waste was carried out in collaboration with WRAP (a charity taking action on waste and resources), who might use the findings to inform their future research and campaigns. Other outcomes of the research were to extend the application of System Effects (a fairly recent methodology for building and analysing systems maps) to new topics and combine it with use of the COM-B model of behaviour (a widely used model for understanding causes of people's behaviour). This might lead to the System Effects approach being taken forward by other behavioural scientists in academia, public or private sectors. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Construction Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Environment Government Democracy and Justice |
| URL | https://sciencesearch.defra.gov.uk/ProjectDetails?ProjectId=21391 |
| Description | A study funded by this award look at barriers to the use of timber in construction. Over 70 professionals from a variety of construction roles (design, supply, engineering, building, commissioning, finance/insurance) contributed to systems maps looking at the use of traditional timber, engineered systems, and English wood products. The research contributed to Defra's Timber in Construction Roadmap, which seeks to promote the use of timber construction as part of supporting delivery of net zero. Seven themes described in the roadmap were identified through discussion with the Timber in Construction Working Group members and through the systems map survey. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/timber-in-construction-roadmap/timber-in-construction-roadmap Findings from two other systems map surveys have been used by behavioural and social scientists and policy professionals at Defra, to help inform work in the areas of food waste and reducing indoor air pollution. The research also led to development of a new dashboard tool about behavioural insights projects and evidence linked to Defra's different areas of work. This has been used by the Defra Strategic Behavioural Insights Team and policy professionals at Defra to help look up and connect pieces of behavioural science evidence. Through presenting the tool to a cross-government network it has helped inform ideas for creating similar resources in other departments. Presentations of the research have led to learning and capacity-building among Defra's behavioural insights community of practice, and systems community of practice, as well as a cross-government network for behavioural insights. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Construction,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Impact Types | Societal Policy & public services |
| Description | BR-UK: Behavioural Research UK Leadership Hub |
| Amount | £10,600,142 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | ES/Y001044/1 |
| Organisation | Economic and Social Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2023 |
| End | 10/2028 |
| Description | Behavioural insights database user workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Around 90 civil servants from policy and analysis roles were invited to take part in a user workshop about an internal Defra behavioural insights database, developed as part of the research. Around 30 attended and a recording was made available to everyone invited. The workshop was followed by a short evaluation questionnaire. Feedback from the workshop and questionnaire indicated that the database would help with finding behavioural insights information. It also led to a list of features that would improve the database. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Defra Social Science Expert Group meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This activity was to consult Defra' Social Science Expert Group (SSEG, a group of senior academics) about methods of assessing the environmental impacts of people's behaviours/actions. A briefing note was circulated and discussed at a formal meeting of the Expert Group. Discussion and feedback from the meeting influenced decisions about the direction and priorities for the fellowship research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Fellowship Steering Group meetings |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A steering group was established for the purpose of overseeing the fellowship research. The group included analysts and policy professionals from Defra, as well as academics from University College London. The steering group met monthly between February and May 2022, and thereafter approximately every three months. Input from the steering group led to a range of decisions around the direction of the research and its dissemination. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
| Description | Presentation to BEIS about behavioural systems mapping |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I was invited to give a presentation to civil servants at BEIS (the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) about behavioural systems mapping. Behavioural systems mapping is a research method that involves looking at the systemic causal links between different peoples' behaviour/actions, and factors affecting behaviour/actions. The presentation sparked questions and ideas from attendees, who said it was engaging and helpful. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Presentation to Defra about behavioural systems mapping |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I was invited to give a presentation to civil servants at Defra about behavioural systems mapping. Behavioural systems mapping is a research method that involves looking at the systemic causal links between different peoples' behaviour/actions, and factors affecting behaviour/actions. The presentation led to questions and discussion, and interest in how the method is being applied as part of the fellowship research. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Presentation to cross-government net zero group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I was invited to give a short presentation to a cross-government meeting of civil servants about the fellowship research and how it relates to net zero. The presentation covered plans and outcomes related to 2 research activities as part of the fellowship: (1) development of a behavioural insights database and (2) behavioural systems mapping. The presentation led to questions from attendees and interest in receiving updates about the research activities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Seminar for UCL Centre for Behaviour Change |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Around 20 academic staff and postgraduate students attended a research seminar at UCL Centre for Behaviour Change, where outcomes of the fellowship were co-presented by the research fellow and the Defra host. Attendees learned about new research methods, including systems mapping. The seminar also led to discussion about the challenges and opportunities around policy placements and attendees learned about what it is like working in the civil service and how they can engage with civil servants. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | Timber in Construction Working Group survey |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This activity involved designing and disseminating a survey in partnership with the Defra Timber in Construction Working Group (a group of professionals convened to develop a Timber in Construction Policy Roadmap). In November 2022 the Working Group met and discussed the idea of a survey about systemic barriers to the use of timber in construction. Between November 2022 and March 2023 the survey was developed with feedback from members of the Working Group. In March 2023 the survey was distributed to the Working Group who were asked to share it with other relevant professional contacts. This led to participation in the survey from within and beyond the Working Group. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |