Calling DIBS

Kirstin Appelt

Learn the inside story of Behavioural Insights in this series of interviews with BI enthusiasts and experts from BC and beyond, hosted by Dr. Kirstin Appelt, Research Director of UBC Decision Insights for Business & Society (UBC-DIBS). New episodes are posted regularly September-May. Liner notes: Calling DIBS is recorded and edited on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Calling DIBS is edited by Rishad Habib, Siobhan Cook, Isabella Jaramillo, Parnian Ashrafi, and Kirstin Appelt. Intro and outro music are excerpts from “resonance” by airtone (2020; http://ccmixter.org/files/airtone/61321), licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0). read less

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Hitting Snooze, Taking Out the Trash, & Other Everyday BI Opportunities (Episode 65)

Hitting Snooze, Taking Out the Trash, & Other Everyday BI Opportunities (Episode 65)

Kirstin Appelt, Research Director of UBC Decision Insights for Business & Society (UBC-DIBS).Guest host Lindsay Miles-Pickup puts Kirstin Appelt in the hot seat to answer which BI-based superpower she would like to acquire, where she succeeds and fails in using BI in daily life, and which everyday inconvenience she would love to tackle with BI. We also tackle more traditional topics like how people can integrate BI into their work, exciting applications of BI, and why "surprising" behaviour isn't always so unexpected when you dig deeper.

Hitting Snooze, Taking Out the Trash, & Other Everyday BI Opportunities (Episode 65)

Hitting Snooze, Taking Out the Trash, & Other Everyday BI Opportunities (Episode 65)

Kirstin Appelt, Research Director of UBC Decision Insights for Business & Society (UBC-DIBS).Guest host Lindsay Miles-Pickup puts Kirstin Appelt in the hot seat to answer which BI-based superpower she would like to acquire, where she succeeds and fails in using BI in daily life, and which everyday inconvenience she would love to tackle with BI. We also tackle more traditional topics like how people can integrate BI into their work, exciting applications of BI, and why "surprising" behaviour isn't always so unexpected when you dig deeper.

Understanding & Combatting Data Fraud (Episode 64)

Understanding & Combatting Data Fraud (Episode 64)

Dave Hardisty, Associate Professor of Marketing and Behavioural Science at UBC Sauder School of Business.Fraud has been a big story in the behavioural and decision sciences this summer. Dave Hardisty returns to the podcast to help us understand the incredible story of fraud in research about, well, fraud. We unpack what an accusation of data fraud means and how fraud is different from other bad practices, like p-hacking. We also explore the impacts of fraud and what we can all do about it, whether we're conducting our own research or reading/listening to others' research.

Searching for Positive Spillover (Episode 63)

Searching for Positive Spillover (Episode 63)

Jiaying Zhao, Associate Professor of Psychology and the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability at UBC.Jiaying Zhao (JZ) returns to the podcast to discuss the recent i-frame vs. s-frame debate, which suggests that we need to choose individual (i) or systems (s) change. JZ counters the debate with evidence that the i-frame and s-frame can be complementary: Examples of positive spillover show that one behaviour change can beget another similar behaviour or attitude change. JZ shares why the field should try to create and measure spillover within and between people.

Be the Voice of the User (Episode 62)

Be the Voice of the User (Episode 62)

Brittany Burrows, Behavioural & Product Designer.In her career in behavioural and product design, Brittany Burrows draws on an understanding of human behaviour to design products and experiences that meet user needs. Brittany shares important lessons that apply to both design and BI projects: understand the problem before you create a solution, work across teams to ensure solutions are feasible, actively solicit feedback, and always know, love, and represent the user a.k.a. the population of interest.

Are You an Influencer? The Answer May Surprise You (Episode 61)

Are You an Influencer? The Answer May Surprise You (Episode 61)

Vanessa Bohns, Professor of Organizational Behaviour at Cornell University.Vanessa Bohns is a social psychologist whose research shows that we often have more influence on others than we think we do. Vanessa explains how this can be good (giving a compliment really does brighten someone's day) and bad (asking for a favour can make it hard for someone to say no). To do better, Vanessa suggests that both influencers and influencees should be mindful--mindful of how we ask and how we answer requests.

Frameworks Make It Easy (Episode 60)

Frameworks Make It Easy (Episode 60)

Whitney Queisser, Lifecycle Marketer.For Whitney Queisser, UBC's Advanced Professional Certificate in Behavioural Insights introduced her to frameworks that have changed how she tackles A/B testing as a lifecycle marketer. Whitney discusses how she uses the RIDE process model to structure her projects, the EAST and MINDSPACE frameworks to brainstorm behaviour change solutions, and ethics frameworks to guide her decision-making and ensure she's nudging for good.

Leave Room for Learning (Episode 59)

Leave Room for Learning (Episode 59)

Shannon McDonaugh, Program Manager in Behavioural Insights at the Nova Scotia Outpost for Public Sector Innovation.Shannon McDonaugh completed UBC's Advanced Professional Certificate in Behavioural Insights to have a methodology for how she uses BI to help improve the lives of Nova Scotians. Shannon shares some of these projects as well as advice for how individuals and organizations can start using BI ethically and thoughtfully. A key recommendation is to make space for learning during all phases of BI projects and all steps of our BI journeys.

Include Indigenous Worldviews (Episode 58)

Include Indigenous Worldviews (Episode 58)

Emily Salmon, PhD student, University of Victoria, & Member of Cowichan Tribes.As an Indigenous student, Emily Salmon noticed that course materials rarely reflected her worldview. Together with Jordyn Hrenyk, Emily researched the worldviews implicit in course materials as well as the resulting themes, consequences, and strategies to do better. On the podcast, we discuss these in the context of course materials, BI solutions, and everyday life. Emily also helps us disentangle key terms like Reconciliation, Indigenization, and Decolonization.

Designing Meaningful, Novel, & Impactful Research (Episode 57)

Designing Meaningful, Novel, & Impactful Research (Episode 57)

Emily Cardon, Principal Advisor & Head of Research for BIT Americas, & Stephanie Wilcoxen, Senior Research Advisor, BIT.As researchers at BIT, Emily Cardon & Stephanie Wilcoxen know their way around the collaborative puzzle that is research design. Together we talk through the who, what, why, and how of research design, with a focus on the particular challenges and opportunities of field or "real world" research. Among the many insights they share, Stephanie and Emily highlight the importance of the research questions leading the design, rather than vice versa.

Comparing Lab, Survey, & Field Research Designs (Episode 56)

Comparing Lab, Survey, & Field Research Designs (Episode 56)

Vince Hopkins, Assistant Professor of Public Policy at the University of Saskatchewan.Vince Hopkins returns to the podcast to chat about the continuum of research design from lab studies to field studies. We discuss the opportunities and challenges of different research designs as well as how to deal with different constraints prospectively in design or retrospectively in analysis. We also discuss how field studies provide a wealth of learning for all involved, no matter what the results are or whether a trial was even run.

On Being a BI Pioneer Within an Organization (Episode 55)

On Being a BI Pioneer Within an Organization (Episode 55)

Sharilynn Wardrop, Protected Areas Ecologist with BC Parks.Sharilynn Wardrop returns to the podcast to share how she is using Behavioural Insights in a role and organization where BI is not the primary toolkit people reach for. We discuss challenges, successes, and strategies for weaving BI into projects in this context. We also reflect on the need to turn a BI lens onto BI itself to make it easy, attractive, social, and timely to use.

Using Standardization & Customization to Navigate Partnerships & Scaling (Episode 54)

Using Standardization & Customization to Navigate Partnerships & Scaling (Episode 54)

Cecilia Sluga, Behaviour Change Senior Lead at Delterra.At Delterra, Cecilia Sluga works with a wide array of partners to create “Real Change, At Scale”. In part two of this two-episode series, Cecilia shares strategies for partnering with individuals and organizations. She also shares her advice for scaling, which involves finding the right mix of standardization and customization. Lastly, Cecilia shares the challenges and opportunities of applying BI in the non-profit sector.

Changing Behaviour & Systems for Maximum Impact on the Climate Crisis (Episode 53)

Changing Behaviour & Systems for Maximum Impact on the Climate Crisis (Episode 53)

Cecilia Sluga, Behaviour Change Senior Lead at Delterra.At environmental non-governmental organization Delterra, Cecilia Sluga brings her wide-ranging expertise to bear in encouraging behaviour change for the good of people and the planet. In part one of this two-episode series, Cecilia shares her journey to working on behaviour change in the non-profit sector. She also talks about how important it is to use many different levers in order to change behaviour and systems in an impactful way.

A BI Lens on BI Careers (Episode 52)

A BI Lens on BI Careers (Episode 52)

Rhiannon Mosher, Human-Centred Design Researcher with the Behavioural Science Office within the Public Health Agency of Canada.As an anthropologist by training, Rhiannon Mosher brings a unique perspective to her work in Behavioural Insights. She shares the challenges and opportunities of coming to BI from another field. Rhiannon also shares advice for how to turn a BI lens onto your career to identify and communicate your transferrable skills to make them attractive and easy to understand by managers and potential employers. For more, read Rhiannon's blog post about The Disentanglement Project; for folks changing careers, she recommends the Transition Q&A series.

Using BI to Encourage a Return to Reusable Lifestyles (Episode 51)

Using BI to Encourage a Return to Reusable Lifestyles (Episode 51)

Marika Smith, Sustainability Specialist with the City of Victoria.Marika Smith completed UBC's Advanced Professional Certificate in Behavioural Insights to learn how she could be intentional in how she shapes behaviour toward sustainability. Marika weaves behavioural insights into her discussion of the barriers and opportunities around a reusable lifestyle. She also shares how local governments are uniquely poised to use BI given their many connections with their populations.

Behavioural Insights in the Federal Government & International Organizations (Episode 50)

Behavioural Insights in the Federal Government & International Organizations (Episode 50)

Heather Devine, Senior Lead of the Behavioural Science Office at the Public Health Agency of Canada.After founding the BC Behavioural Insights Group, Heather Devine has crossed Canada to help co-found the Behavioural Science Office at the Public Health Agency of Canada. Heather shares a look at how she is seeing BI spread across the "federal government family" of ministries, branches, and partners as well as into international organizations like the UN, OECD, WHO, World Bank, and Save the Children.

Managing People & Plans to Maximize BI Project Success & Satisfaction (Episode 49)

Managing People & Plans to Maximize BI Project Success & Satisfaction (Episode 49)

Dana Hubackova, Project Manager with the BC Ministry of Children & Family Development. Dana Hubackova completed UBC's Advanced Professional Certificate in Behavioural Insights to continue building her innovation toolkit, which already included tools like project management, change management, and lean. Dana shares insights about the art and science of project management and her advice for successfully managing BI projects. One of her best tips? Spend time upfront building relationships and plans!

Behavioural Insights as a Role and a Tool (Epsiode 48)

Behavioural Insights as a Role and a Tool (Epsiode 48)

Anna Burrowes, Methods Specialist with the BC Behavioural Insights Group (BC BIG). Since graduating from UBC's Advanced Professional Certificate in Behavioural Insights, Anna Burrowes has transitioned into a role that enables her to both use BI and indulge her passion for continual learning. Anna shares details about the Methods Specialist role as well as ways to use BI in a variety of roles and applications. She also draws on her policy background to offer opportunities and barriers for applying BI to policy.

How BI Unlocks Extra Tools in the Marketing, Strategy, & Design Toolkits (Episode 47)

How BI Unlocks Extra Tools in the Marketing, Strategy, & Design Toolkits (Episode 47)

Melinda Deines, Director of Marketing & Communications at SLD. By completing UBC's Advanced Professional Certificate in Behavioural Insights, Melinda Deines has been able to apply BI to her work in brand strategy, marketing, and design. She shares how the intention-action gap was an aha moment in her BI journey and how she uses BI to tackle everything from reducing sludge to smoothing organizational transformation to helping companies achieve their sustainability goals.

How Behavioural Insights & User Experience Intersect (Episode 46)

How Behavioural Insights & User Experience Intersect (Episode 46)

Stephanie Kuhn, Senior Business Analyst with the BC Ministry of Advanced Education & Skills Training.With her extensive User Experience background and her BI training from UBC's Advanced Professional Certificate in Behavioural Insights, Stephanie Kuhn is the right person for a discussion of the similarities, differences, and opportunities between BI and UX. We also talk about how integrating BI ideas and frameworks into typical work processes can create valuable space for asking questions and sharing insights.