Behavioural Science in Practice

Course content

The course is taught over three full days at WBS London, The Shard by Warwick Business School's Behavioural Science group, and the Behavioural Insights team. The programme will include guest speakers, who will share their experience of using behavioural science in their organisation.

You will learn about key principles and current thinking in behavioural science, and how to apply them to research, design and test ideas. The course emphasises practical application, so what you learn is directly transferable back into your workplace. Each day, you will learn about both theory and practice, while being encouraged to work on your live challenges as briefs.

You will explore the hidden forces that shape how we think and decide, and the influence of context and culture, including:

Beliefs: the seriality of thought, how we reason-by-example, the ubiquity of overconfidence, and reasoning as rationalisation

Decision-making: why decision making is so hard, our brain as a comparison machine, deciding one reason at a
time, and choosing by comparing and by copying

Preferences: self-control problems and how they can be addressed, social norms, altruism, reciprocity, network
nudges and social bridging.

Teaching days

Each day, you will learn about both theory and practice, while being encouraged to work on your live challenges as briefs. 

Day 1

Introduction to key concepts:

  • The TEST methodology
  • Beliefs
  • Decision making
  • Case study session
  • Target - Step one of the TEST methodology
  • Group activity

Full details
Day 2

  • Preferences
  • Bite size behavioural science - motivation, confidence and self-efficacy
  • Explore - Step two of the TEST methodology
  • Solution - Step three of the TEST methodology
  • Cast study session
  • Group activity

Full details
Day 3

  • Bitesize behavioural science - Risk, uncertainty, social norms and reciprocity 
  • Trial - Step four of the TEST methodology
  • Case study discussion
  • Group activity
  • Wrap and feedback

Full details

Our teaching team

Behavioural Science in Practice is taught by Warwick Business School's Behavioural Science group, alongside the Behavioural Insights team. 

The Behavioural Science group at Warwick Business School is the leading centre of its kind in Europe, at the forefront of research in psychology, economics and neuroscience, while heavily involved in real world applications.

The Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) is a global social purpose company of leaders and pioneers in applied behavioural science. They exist to improve lives and communities by helping all levels of government, the private sector and philanthropies tackle their biggest challenges through the application of behavioural science.