Tag: Social Policy

Social Policy
A white man's hand squeezes the pump as he fills his car with petrol

How to Stop Panic Buying

Social Science Insights

The war on Iran led to petrol shortages in early 2026. Some people panicked and stockpiled fuel. We look at the structural issues and biases that impact this behaviour, and how the social science theories, social norms, and morality messages may stop consumer hoarding in future.

  • A white man's hand pumps petrol into a car. Title: Social science of why people panic buy and how to stop it
  • Illustration of a green petrol pump on the bowser. Title: Poor policy planning
  • Illustration of a service station in the distance on a sunny day. Quote from Prof Tarryn Phillips, Dr Danielle Couch, and Dr Carmen Vargas: "We must continue to scrutinise fuel markets and disribution failures."
  • Illustration of a man with his fist covering his mouth and his other arm across his shape. He looks down, worried. Title: Fearing loss
  • Black and white illustration of a man and woman in silhouette against large arched windows. They look up and face away from each other, as if disagreeing. Title: misinformation feeds fear
  • Illustration of a young Asian woman hiding inside a large cardboard box, looking anxious. Title: Regain control
  • Illustration of two women in hijab walking outdoors with a Black South Asian man as they hold coffees. Title: blaming individuals doesn't help
  • A Black woman patient looks down, worried, as a white male doctor points at a device. Title: personalise the risk
  • A white woman smiles softly as she walks outdoors, and holds a paper heart over her chest. Title: appeal to morals
  • Illustration of a Black woman driving a car, smiling, with a male passanger beside her. Title: learn more: SocialScienceInsights.com
Continue reading “How to Stop Panic Buying”
Social Policy
Two white women and a man stand at the edge of a cliff. One of them points into the distancce while the other takes a photo with her phone

Measuring Public Information Campaigns

Social Science Insights

Social science can help marketers, decision-makers, and businesses to effectively use social norms to change behaviour. Below are two case studies on the environment and health.

  • Four diverse young workers sit around a table looking at documents and a laptop. Title reads: Measuring Public Information Campaigns
  • Four diverse people stand in a row looking at their phones, smiling, against an orange wall. Title reads: media campaigns
  • Two white women and a man stand at the edge of a cliff. One of them points into the distancce while the other takes a photo with her phone. Title reads: E.g. Environment
  • A diverse group of young women stand indoors in a tight circle, laughing
  • A group of Black women in hijab laugh while sitting in two rows. One of them fixes her friend's hijab
Continue reading “Measuring Public Information Campaigns”
Business
A group of five people run on a bridge against a stormy sky

Using Social Norms to Change Behaviour

Social Science Insights

Social norms are the unwritten rules of acceptable behaviour that motivate us to follow social expectations. Social science shows how norms can be used to positively change behaviour.

  • A diverse group of friends sit in a cinema eating popcorn, with shocked and amused expressions. Title reads: Using norms to change behaviour
  • A Latin man holds a piece of glass in his hand, which reflects his stern gaze. Title reads: what are social norms
  • A group of five people run on a bridge against a stormy sky. Title reads: Descriptive norms
  • A white woman holds her hand out as if saying, 'Stop'
Continue reading “Using Social Norms to Change Behaviour”
Social Science in Action

Law of the Journey

Social Science Insights

Taking a look back at Ai Weiwei’s exhibition at the Biennale of Sydney, 2018. The work is called, ‘Law of the Journey, 2017.’ It tackles Ai Weiwei’s ongoing critique of European nations denying basic human rights to refugees.

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Social Policy
A silhouetted people walk down a hill, following one person in the lead

How to Encourage Community Change

Social Science Insights

How can you use social science to encourage communities to change collective behaviours? We cover how to identify a behaviour that needs to change, how to target the key audience, how to encourage change, and the best mode of communication to reach the intended community. The provided check list will help you communicate effectively with local communities.

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Business

How to Improve Record-Keeping

Social Science Insights

Organisations can improve their record-keeping by adopting a systematic approach, and using techniques developed through social science research. Discover tips for small businesses and not-for-profit organisations on how to document important decisions, understanding legal obligations, and keeping records safe.

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Social Policy

Encouraging Referrals

Social Science Insights

This post provides tips for improving public health communications. I show examples from studies that encouraged doctors to comply with health guidelines. I discuss a case study of a health organisation that sought to increase patient referrals to a free treatment program.

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Business
A young Asian girl is reading a magazine

Reaching Your Audience

Social Science Insights

I reflect on how to tell a good story that takes into consideration different social groups, inequity, and power relations. I also provide tips about how to measure the impact of a good story.

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Social Policy
Two men stand on cracked land, one of them kneels touching the ground, the other stands looking to the distance

Emergency Disaster Support

Social Science Insights

How can you encourage your customers to take up free support services? We look at how to get employers and workers to complete a survey sent via SMS, and sign-up for emergency disaster relief.

Man wearing a hat stands in a middle of a barren field in New South Wales
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Business
People swinging mid-air in the 'Nitro,' a carnival ride at the Perth Royal Show

Safety Planning

Social Science Insights

Social science can encourage businesses to comply with safety regulations. This is a case study showing how to encourage community organisations to submit event safety planning information in a timely manner. We cover how to encourage early planning, showing the benefits of complying with safety information requests, targeting messages, and using trusted messengers.

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