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Process matters : Assessing the use of behavioural science methods in applied behavioural programmes

Karlin, Beth ; Hamilton, Olivia ; Rotmann, Sea ; Butler, Danielle ; Sequeira, Miguel Macias ; Gouveia, João Pedro ; Palma, Pedro ; Mundaca, Luis LU orcid ; Ashby, Kira and Realini, Anna , et al. (2022) In Eceee Summer Study Proceedings p.541-549
Abstract

Behavioural science methods have significant potential to help policy makers, practitioners and energy programme managers design, implement and evaluate behavioural campaigns addressing hard-to-reach (HTR) energy users. But when facing budget and logistic constraints, how many real-life programmes actually follow through? How are behavioural science methods actually applied in a real-world setting? This paper presents a scientific process for behaviour change programmes - the “Building Blocks of Behaviour Change” - and analyses 19 case studies from seven countries to see how many are actually utilising these methods in practice. The case studies focus specifically on HTR energy users and the authors also share their perspectives in... (More)

Behavioural science methods have significant potential to help policy makers, practitioners and energy programme managers design, implement and evaluate behavioural campaigns addressing hard-to-reach (HTR) energy users. But when facing budget and logistic constraints, how many real-life programmes actually follow through? How are behavioural science methods actually applied in a real-world setting? This paper presents a scientific process for behaviour change programmes - the “Building Blocks of Behaviour Change” - and analyses 19 case studies from seven countries to see how many are actually utilising these methods in practice. The case studies focus specifically on HTR energy users and the authors also share their perspectives in feasibility and acceptability of utilising such a process in their work. We found that most programmes utilised some behavioural science research methods, but few followed a full scientific “best practice” process. Limitations of this study include selection bias (the case studies for analysis were chosen by country experts), design issues and some missing data in the cases with regards to exact methods employed. But it is the first study of its kind, to our knowledge, that takes a look at the extent of how scientific methods are being applied in the real world with HTR energy users. Based on this comparative analysis of the cases and feedback from the case study authors, we present recommendations on how programmes can continue to realistically integrate best practice methods into their programmes while also meeting budget, competency, and timeline constraints.

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organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
behavioural change, low income, methodology, small and medium-sized enterprises, survey, testing
host publication
ECEEE 2022 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency : Agents of Change - Agents of Change
series title
Eceee Summer Study Proceedings
pages
9 pages
publisher
European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ECEEE)
external identifiers
  • scopus:85170416777
ISSN
1653-7025
2001-7960
ISBN
9789198827002
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e539cbf1-e998-4391-9ddc-ce285a32bc33
date added to LUP
2024-06-10 08:36:29
date last changed
2024-06-18 15:51:22
@inproceedings{e539cbf1-e998-4391-9ddc-ce285a32bc33,
  abstract     = {{<p>Behavioural science methods have significant potential to help policy makers, practitioners and energy programme managers design, implement and evaluate behavioural campaigns addressing hard-to-reach (HTR) energy users. But when facing budget and logistic constraints, how many real-life programmes actually follow through? How are behavioural science methods actually applied in a real-world setting? This paper presents a scientific process for behaviour change programmes - the “Building Blocks of Behaviour Change” - and analyses 19 case studies from seven countries to see how many are actually utilising these methods in practice. The case studies focus specifically on HTR energy users and the authors also share their perspectives in feasibility and acceptability of utilising such a process in their work. We found that most programmes utilised some behavioural science research methods, but few followed a full scientific “best practice” process. Limitations of this study include selection bias (the case studies for analysis were chosen by country experts), design issues and some missing data in the cases with regards to exact methods employed. But it is the first study of its kind, to our knowledge, that takes a look at the extent of how scientific methods are being applied in the real world with HTR energy users. Based on this comparative analysis of the cases and feedback from the case study authors, we present recommendations on how programmes can continue to realistically integrate best practice methods into their programmes while also meeting budget, competency, and timeline constraints.</p>}},
  author       = {{Karlin, Beth and Hamilton, Olivia and Rotmann, Sea and Butler, Danielle and Sequeira, Miguel Macias and Gouveia, João Pedro and Palma, Pedro and Mundaca, Luis and Ashby, Kira and Realini, Anna and Maggiore, Simone}},
  booktitle    = {{ECEEE 2022 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency : Agents of Change}},
  isbn         = {{9789198827002}},
  issn         = {{1653-7025}},
  keywords     = {{behavioural change; low income; methodology; small and medium-sized enterprises; survey; testing}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{541--549}},
  publisher    = {{European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ECEEE)}},
  series       = {{Eceee Summer Study Proceedings}},
  title        = {{Process matters : Assessing the use of behavioural science methods in applied behavioural programmes}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}