1. An Introduction to the BIT Nudging in Education
The Rise of Experimental Government – and Practice
Conclusions
Education is fundamentally a human interaction
teachers, parents, pupils
Prone to behavioural biases… the roots of education are bitter, the fruits are sweet (Aristotle)
Costs are now, gains are later
Takes years, decades… to develop the self discipline

2. How did the UK become a winner?

3. Roll-out to full population
Test, Learn, Adapt
Trial 1
Control
Intervention 1
Intervention 2
12%
24%
50%
Initial population
Trial 2
Control
Intervention
Roll-out to full population
50%
62%
This animation is often helpful to illustrate iterative nature of the trials approach

4. Roll-out to full population
Test, Learn, Adapt
Trial 1
Trial 2
12%
24%
50%
62%
Control
Intervention 1
Intervention 2
Intervention
Roll-out to full population
Initial population

5. Test, Learn, Adapt

6. The What Works approach
Transmit
Adopt
Generate
UNCLASSIFIED

7. ‘What Works’ centres Early Intervention Foundation NICE
Local Economic Growth
EEF
Better Aging
Crime reduction

8. The What Works centre for Education (Education Endowment Foundation)
Since 2011, EEF has funded 127 trials across 7,200 schools

9. An Introduction to the BIT Nudging in Education
The Rise of Experimental Government – and Practice
Conclusions
Education is fundamentally a human interaction
teachers, parents, pupils
Prone to behavioural biases… the roots of education are bitter, the fruits are sweet (Aristotle)
Costs are now, gains are later
Takes years, decades… to develop the self discipline

10. Respect, dignity, and well-being

11. More than just grades
I feel connected with my daughter and her school when receiving these texts

12. “David Cameron’s Vanity Project”
Press were initially sceptical
Ben Goldacre in particular:
So here is my fantasy. We sack the Behavioural Insights Team – all they’ll do is overextrapolate from behavioural economics research – and open a Number 10 Policy Trials unit instead.
“David Cameron’s Vanity Project”

13. Press coverage

14. Poland
Netherlands
Finland
UK Government
Belarus
Canada
Germany
Pakistan
Israel
USA
Moldova
UAE
India
Jamaica
Ukraine
Montenegro
Singapore
Mexico
Costa Rica
Guatemala
Oman
Colombia NZ
Peru
Australia

15. Of course, concerns are still occasionally expressed…

16. Many good ideas don’t work

17. RCTs Processes Goals Policies ‘What Works’ centres swb
Behavioural and experimental approaches have proven impactful across levels…
Goals
swb
Policies
Midata; complement to regulation
Processes
Letters; texts; scripts; web design etc
RCTs
‘What Works’ centres

18. Cantino planisphere (1502)
Heart of this approach is humility - recognising what we don’t know – and finding out…
Cantino planisphere (1502)

20. Appendix

21. But a final thought - we still need to ask the public for permission

23. 1. Control
2. Norm
3. Norm & Picture
4. Norm & Logo

24. 5. Three Die
6. Nine Lives
7. Reciprocity
8. Action

25. Proportion joining the organ donor register after a simple online prompt
100,000 extra pa!

26. Randomised Control Trial
INTERVENTION 2
CONTROL
INTERVENTION 1

27. …that dress

28. Created by R. Beau Lotto http://www.echalk.co.uk/

30. Early ‘nudges’…