Many social policy and education programs start from the assumption that people act in their best interest. But behavioral science shows that people often weigh intuition over reason, make inconsistent choices, and put off big decisions. The individuals and families who need services and the staff who provide them are no exception. From city…

In this article, the author explains why field experiments can improve what we teach and how we teach economics. Economists no longer operate as passive observers of economic phenomena. Instead, they participate actively in the research process by collecting data from field experiments to investigate the economics of everyday life. This change can…

The article intends to present the debate on behaviour modification in the regulation studies literature, at a time of renewed interest among regulators for new ideas and strategies. As the financial crisis has led to the most public critique yet of the rational choice view of individuals that has informed regulation in the last few decades, other…

New Zealand men have poor health outcomes in a range of domains compared to women. They also report barriers (both personal and structural) in their information-seeking behaviors and processes to improve health and wellbeing. This paper reports a research project in progress that is investigating the information-seeking behaviors and processes of…

This account describes the total reengineering of an organization with the attendant changes to the culture, the nature of the work, the rethinking of the organizational purpose, and the identification of a new customer base and new concepts of how the organization will reach it. The case is presented not as scientific research but as a case of…

The question of changes in men's family roles is considered from the standpoint of approaches that feminists of both sexes might use to bring about those changes. Emergent consensus subsumes strategies labeled as prosocial and self-interest. The remaining approach subsumes negotiation strategies. Suggestions and practical applications follow.…

Tests predictions based on reactance theory, postdecisional regret, and language expectancy theory in a study altering logical style (inductive versus deductive) and language density in messages to parents advocating family sun safety. Finds influence of message varies by stage of progression to action, which has implications for tailoring health…

Subjects (N=45) were treated with one of three weight control procedures: (a) attention placebo; (b) covert sensitization; and (c) covert sensitization augmented by false physiological feedback. Although all treatment groups lost weight, there was no differential weight loss among the groups at posttest or a 4-week follow-up test. (Author)

Measurement issues relating to behavior modeling research are discussed. Researchers have successfully demonstrated the ability of behavior modeling to produce significant behavioral change in the training milieu, but have been less successful in showing the transfer of such change to everyday situations, a problem partially caused by measurement…

This study compared systematic desensitization and two pseudotherapy manipulations with and without false galvanic skin response feedback after every session suggesting improvement in the modification of intense snake and spider fear. The results indicated no consistent differences between the three treatment groups. (Author)

A counseling analogue study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of a method for changing clients' self-perceptions in an interview. Based on causal attribution theory, an interview procedure was designed to systematically control behavioral information assumed to be utilized by individuals in inductively arriving at views of their…

The importance of data contributed for use in industrial training by the sociologist and anthropologist, the interrelationship between culture and technology, and the implications of culture's relationship to change and/or learning are discussed. Some principles for gaining acceptance of change are listed. Concern with quality products implies…

This commentary on EC 605 189 discusses assumptions of gentle teaching, its use of supportive behavioral techniques, and criticisms of gentle teaching. The paper concludes that gentle teaching is distinct from applied behavior analysis (ABA) in its unconditional valuing and focus on mutual change and is congruent with ABA in use of several…

Underweight subjects were assigned to either a self-reinforcement condition, a self-punishment condition, or to a discussion/reflection control condition. The subjects received one treatment session per week over a five-week period. After treatment, the self-reinforcement groups gained significantly more pounds (kilograms) than either of the other…