Why Not All Nudges Work ”In The Wild” | Nina Mazar & Dilip Soman
Behavioral Grooves Podcast
Introduction
Behavior groups is a podcast that explores human behavior through behavior science. We like to explore the science behind our behaviors and decisions with the brightest academics and authors in order to apply those insights to improve our lives. This week, we look at how social proof can be used as an excuse for not doing what other people are doing.
Read Nudge and you are inspired by how behavioral science works. But how can we translate and scale behavioral science effectively into policies and organizations? Indeed, can all academic research be applied “in the wild”?
Our two guests on this episode, Nina Mazar PhD and Dilip Soman PhD have co-edited a book “Behavioral Science in the Wild” that addresses exactly this. If you’re a practitioner, wanting to apply behavioral science in corporate, non-profit, or governmental work, we think you should check this book out. It’s full of excellent ideas for how to apply behavioral science in the wild!
Nina Mazar is a professor of marketing and co-director of the Susilo Institute for Ethics in the Global Economy at the Boston University Questrom School of Business. Her work focuses on topics ranging from ethics to social & environmental impact. She sits on the board of Irrational Labs and belongs to the team of scientists of the Behavior Change for Good Initiative at Wharton.
Dilip Soman is a Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Science and Economics. His research is in the area of behavioral science and its applications to consumer wellbeing, marketing and policy. Together Nina and Dilip established the Director of the Behavioural Economics in Action Research Centre at Rotman [BEAR], on which Dilip still serves as director.
Our discussion with Nina and Dilip explores the journey of working on their book together and why it’s vital reading for all behavioral scientists. To summarize the discussion, as always, Tim and Kurt end the show with a Grooving Session to recap what we learn about behavioral science in the wild!
(5:04) Welcome to Dilip and Nina with speed round questions.
(10:01) Why do we need a book about applying behavioral science research “in the wild”.
(14:29) Why not all academic research is destined for the practitioner world?
(18:04) Social norms matter but the right reference group is vital.
(21:35) Background variables influence behavioral science in the wild.
(29:27) Speed of testing can be a barrier.
(31:33) Overcoming the issue of scalability.
(35:24) How your time frame can affect output.
(38:55) What to do when you don’t get the results you expect.
(44:07) Don’t get caught shopping in the nudge store.
(45:50) Music choices of Dilip and Nina.
(51:29) Grooving session about behavioral science in the wild.
© 2022 Behavioral Grooves
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Links
“Behavioral Science in the Wild (Behaviorally Informed Organizations)”: https://amzn.to/3xxAD04
Nina Mazar: http://ninamazar.com/
Dilip Soman: https://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/FacultyAndResearch/Faculty/FacultyBios/Soman
Episode 102, Cristina Bicchieri: Social Norms are Bundles of Expectations: https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/cristina-bicchieri-social-norms-are-bundles-of-expectations/
Episode 232, Katy Milkman: How to Make Healthy Habits that Actually Last: https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/katy-milkman-habits-that-last/
Episode 16, Nudge-A-Thon with Dr. Christina Gravert: https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/nudge-a-thon-christina-gravert/
Episode 202, How Chaning Jang Works Around Not Being WEIRD: https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/how-chaning-jang-works-around-not-being-weird/
Behavioural Economics in Action at Rotman (BEAR): https://www.rotman.utoronto.ca/facultyandresearch/researchcentres/bear
Musical Links
Paul Simon “Graceland”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP6a-7MP91g
Mark Knopfler “What It Is”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGmtonlys5A
Kishori Amonkar “Swaranjali”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-FuttzRlWE
Dire Straits “Brothers in Arms”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhdFe3evXpk
Supertramp “Take The Long Way Home”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLP0y-X4uYs
Fleetwood Mac “Dreams”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3ywicffOj4
Subramaniam and Stephane Grappelli “Conversations”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFI4TzUDc-8&ab_channel=AhmadAlArabii
The 1988 Subramaniam-Bismillah Geneva: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGOp7APcuMs
The Cure “Just Like Heaven”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3nPiBai66M
Kate Bush “Wuthering Heights”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1pMMIe4hb4
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