Behavior Science Contributions to Public Policy: an Introduction to the Special Section
Behavior analysts already own tools that can shape public policy—time to share them.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Anderson-Carpenter et al. (2023) wrote an editorial. They did not run a new experiment.
They rounded up papers that show how behavior science can guide public rules. Topics range from disability funding to climate change.
What they found
The authors found that demand curves, nudging, and boosting already help shape laws and city programs.
They say behavior analysts have tools that policy teams rarely use.
How this fits with other research
The call echoes Beene (2019) and Szabo (2020). Those papers also push BCBAs to aim their science at big social problems like diversity gaps.
Normand et al. (2023) share the same year and format. Both pieces give guidance, not data, showing the field’s appetite for how-to essays.
Cero et al. (2024) offers another export idea: sentiment code. Together these works form a trend—export behavior tools to new arenas.
Why it matters
You can speak up in local planning meetings. Bring a demand curve to show how price affects bus ridership or vaping. Policy staff get visuals fast. Offer to pilot a nudge—like opt-out recycling—then measure behavior change. Your data can turn a pilot into a city rule.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Behavior science has a long history of influencing public policy. Numerous scholars have used behavioral principles in experimental and applied research to examine the potential impact of local, state, and federal policies across socially important problems and goals. The utility of behavior science in public policy continues to flourish, and translational behavioral research will remain a critical component of effective policy development and implementation. The articles in this special section highlight diverse examples of applied research in various areas, such as intellectual disabilities, substance use, and greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, this special section includes findings from experimental research demonstrating the benefits of using demand curve analysis and behavioral procedures such as nudging and boosting to facilitate effective policy change. Together, these articles offer diverse exemplars of behavior science’s importance in public policy development and implementation.
Perspectives on Behavior Science, 2023 · doi:10.1007/s40614-023-00367-0