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An imperfect thread on some intersections of #BehavioralScience + #ComplexSystems
@DavidPerrott_ @g_arteagoitia
@DavidPerrott_ @g_arteagoitia
Some ppl recognize behavioral science is in its adolescents in a lot ways. While behavioral scientists have identified design that work really well (you know:
opt-out organ donation @ProfEricJohnson & @dggoldst
Save More for Tomorrow @R_Thaler & @shlomobenartzi)
opt-out organ donation @ProfEricJohnson & @dggoldst
Save More for Tomorrow @R_Thaler & @shlomobenartzi)
These are wonderful & we should keep doing these!
But these are only a beginning manifestation of behavioral design & never meant to encompass all of behavioral science
The problem some see is that #nudges are designed in STABLE contexts & with specific demographics
But these are only a beginning manifestation of behavioral design & never meant to encompass all of behavioral science
The problem some see is that #nudges are designed in STABLE contexts & with specific demographics
Many have recognized this big assumption & adapted though:
Behavioral Systems Analysis offered by Evidn @johnpickering,
@WorldBank #embed_wb,
@Lemonade_Inc
@NinaMazar https://open.bu.edu/handle/2144/39951
please">https://open.bu.edu/handle/21... comment more below
Behavioral Systems Analysis offered by Evidn @johnpickering,
@WorldBank #embed_wb,
@Lemonade_Inc
@NinaMazar https://open.bu.edu/handle/2144/39951
please">https://open.bu.edu/handle/21... comment more below
stable conditions can happen, they just assume quite a lot!
& @StuartJRitchie makes a few good points about these assumption (& others) when applying #BehavioralScience to covid https://unherd.com/2020/03/dont-trust-the-psychologists-on-coronavirus/">https://unherd.com/2020/03/d...
& @StuartJRitchie makes a few good points about these assumption (& others) when applying #BehavioralScience to covid https://unherd.com/2020/03/dont-trust-the-psychologists-on-coronavirus/">https://unherd.com/2020/03/d...
That brings us to systems, systems thinking & #ComplexSystems
what are they?
shameless plug: if you want to learn more, then @sfiscience is the go-to! I am looking forward to their Complexity Interactive course next month & working with Dr. Mirta Galesic!
what are they?
shameless plug: if you want to learn more, then @sfiscience is the go-to! I am looking forward to their Complexity Interactive course next month & working with Dr. Mirta Galesic!
Complex systems (more specifically complex adaptive systems) are systems w/o central contol, that follow simple rules & give rise to complex behavior
Most of today& #39;s most pressing problem involve recognizing or understanding complex systems
Most of today& #39;s most pressing problem involve recognizing or understanding complex systems
Complex systems are really difficult to understand bc other science is taught with causality & centrality as a core concepts
@yoonsa (2019). Toward a learning progression of complex systems understanding. Complicity: An Inter. Jo. of Complexity & Ed
@yoonsa (2019). Toward a learning progression of complex systems understanding. Complicity: An Inter. Jo. of Complexity & Ed
Complex system & Cognition researchers
[Michelene T.H. Chi, @asueducation
Tina Grotzer @hgse
@chs8084,
Michael J. Jacobson @Sydney_Uni,
@jennie_chiu]
have researched ways to make it easier for non-experts
please comment more!
[Michelene T.H. Chi, @asueducation
Tina Grotzer @hgse
@chs8084,
Michael J. Jacobson @Sydney_Uni,
@jennie_chiu]
have researched ways to make it easier for non-experts
please comment more!
Its REALLY important for #BehavioralScience ppl to understand complex system before falling into our own biases of learning/understanding science, which valorizes causality
& #39;Systems Thinking: A Primer& #39; by Donella Meadows popularized systems thinking
Also, for whole systems design I& #39;d recommend @Leidyklotz & Blizzards framework https://doi.org/10.1016/j.destud.2012.03.001">https://doi.org/10.1016/j... https://books.google.com/books/about/Thinking_in_Systems.html?id=CpbLAgAAQBAJ">https://books.google.com/books/abo...
Also, for whole systems design I& #39;d recommend @Leidyklotz & Blizzards framework https://doi.org/10.1016/j.destud.2012.03.001">https://doi.org/10.1016/j... https://books.google.com/books/about/Thinking_in_Systems.html?id=CpbLAgAAQBAJ">https://books.google.com/books/abo...
Systems thinking allows individuals to recognize various elements as connected components that interact to form a functioning whole, or system & identify social, economic, & natural worlds as part of a system, & humans (themself included) as actors in this system
Systems thinking can lead to some really wild effects.
For ex: @matthewtballew & collegues found evidence that systems thinking can be a really important pathway to believing in global warming https://www.pnas.org/content/116/17/8214">https://www.pnas.org/content/1...
For ex: @matthewtballew & collegues found evidence that systems thinking can be a really important pathway to believing in global warming https://www.pnas.org/content/116/17/8214">https://www.pnas.org/content/1...
Systems thinking can really influence #BehavioralScience;
many have intergrated complex system science in different ways.
I always think of @economiclogic& #39;s
Complexity as an opportunity and challenge for behavioural public policy @BPPjournal https://doi.org/10.1017/bpp.2018.20">https://doi.org/10.1017/b...
many have intergrated complex system science in different ways.
I always think of @economiclogic& #39;s
Complexity as an opportunity and challenge for behavioural public policy @BPPjournal https://doi.org/10.1017/bpp.2018.20">https://doi.org/10.1017/b...
Inviting other disciplines into the fold is great, but comes at a high cost!
@joramfeitsma & @Markiewhitehead discuss this in & #39;Bounded interdisciplinarity& #39;
And other researchers have discussed the costs of science like @KRoyMyers& #39;s https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/app.20180518&&from=f">https://www.aeaweb.org/articles...
@joramfeitsma & @Markiewhitehead discuss this in & #39;Bounded interdisciplinarity& #39;
And other researchers have discussed the costs of science like @KRoyMyers& #39;s https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/app.20180518&&from=f">https://www.aeaweb.org/articles...
Alternative forms of #BehavioralScience have emerged like #BehavioralDesign, which really seeks to do more than apply, but to design for behavior (which means to also anticipate it)
Reminds me of @SamuelSalzer posts: https://medium.com/behavior-design-hub/behavioral-design-2020-and-beyond-dc88a87f3b97">https://medium.com/behavior-...
Reminds me of @SamuelSalzer posts: https://medium.com/behavior-design-hub/behavioral-design-2020-and-beyond-dc88a87f3b97">https://medium.com/behavior-...
@ruthkschmidt & I have argued for more systemic stances of #BehavioralDesign that consider & #39;the big picture& #39; & & #39;the long game& #39; using scenario planning in papers still being reviewed.
If you& #39;d want to partner, please contact us
If you& #39;d want to partner, please contact us
Predicting behavior is really hard, and plenty of researchers like Dr. Mirta Galesic @sfiscience take on this challenge of predicting human behavior, judgements, and social dynamics.
For ex asking about social circles improves election predictions https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-018-0302-y">https://www.nature.com/articles/...
For ex asking about social circles improves election predictions https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-018-0302-y">https://www.nature.com/articles/...
Assumptions of homogenous populations are being challenged like @dilipsoman & Tanjim Hossain advocate for in:
Successfully scaled solutions need not be homogenous @BPPjournal https://doi.org/10.1017/bpp.2020.24">https://doi.org/10.1017/b...
Successfully scaled solutions need not be homogenous @BPPjournal https://doi.org/10.1017/bpp.2020.24">https://doi.org/10.1017/b...
Some have really recognized we can decentralize behavioral science using big data, and that can overcome heterogenous population challenges
@stuart_mmills paper offered an interesting perspective realizing more data will result in more personalized nudges https://doi.org/10.1017/bpp.2020.7">https://doi.org/10.1017/b...
@stuart_mmills paper offered an interesting perspective realizing more data will result in more personalized nudges https://doi.org/10.1017/bpp.2020.7">https://doi.org/10.1017/b...
This is great! I am collaborating with @aria464 to try and bring behavioral interventions using personalized data from #SMART buildings.
If you want to partner, please contact us --- more contexts are better!
If you want to partner, please contact us --- more contexts are better!
This comes with a caveat:
this approach neglects those who cannot or will not generate such data, and embeds some crucial assumptions about who gets included for personalized nudges, and raises qu. about #equity in #BehavioralScience and #BigData
this approach neglects those who cannot or will not generate such data, and embeds some crucial assumptions about who gets included for personalized nudges, and raises qu. about #equity in #BehavioralScience and #BigData
#BehavioralScience is already taking on the "-ity titans"
replicability
scalability,
generalizability,
heterogeneity
Definitely not an itty-bitty feat
replicability
scalability,
generalizability,
heterogeneity
Definitely not an itty-bitty feat
I anticipate #BehavioralDesign will start asking qu about:
connectivity,
adaptation,
inclusion
A lot of these conversations are going on in other fields like @CRXLAB, so I am hopeful!
connectivity,
adaptation,
inclusion
A lot of these conversations are going on in other fields like @CRXLAB, so I am hopeful!
I recognize I can& #39;t capture it all --- so please comment if you think I neglected something at the intersection of behavioral science and complex systems!
