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Lords Science Committee to Investigate Government Efforts in Changing the Public's Behaviour
The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee have launched a new inquiry into the effectiveness of behaviour change interventions in achieving government policy goals and helping to meet societal challenges.
As governments across the world attempt to meet societal challenges, such as reducing carbon emissions and alleviating the burden on health services caused by smoking, drinking and the rise in obesity, more and more attention is being focused on how behaviour can be influenced using a range of behaviour change interventions that rely on measures other than prohibition or the elimination of choice.
The Committee will consider the current state of knowledge about what behaviour change interventions are effective, whether the Government’s current behaviour change interventions are evidence-based and subject to robust evaluation, and how such interventions are coordinated across departments. The Committee will also be looking at the role of industry and the voluntary sector in shaping behaviour patterns and the social and ethical issues surrounding behaviour change interventions by government.
As part of its inquiry, the Committee will conduct two case studies. The first will look at behaviour change interventions designed to reduce obesity, which remains a significant challenge for society as prevalence rates continue to rise. The subject matter of the second will be decided later in the year.
The Committee have today published a call for evidence in which they welcome evidence covering a range of areas, both generally in regard to behaviour change interventions or specifically about those interventions aimed at tackling obesity.
Baroness Neuberger, Chairman of the Sub-Committee conducting the inquiry, said:
“If we are to be successful in meeting the pressing societal challenges with which we are currently faced, both in the United Kingdom and internationally, our individual and collective behaviour will need to change significantly.
“Behaviour change interventions, such as measures to help people to stop smoking or wear seat belts or to recycle more waste, have played, and will continue to play, a critical role in helping the Government to achieve their policy objectives and to address societal challenges. In this context, we will be examining the effectiveness of publicly funded behaviour change interventions whether used in isolation or in conjunction with other interventions. In particular, we will be asking whether the evidence base underpinning their design, as well as the mechanisms for their evaluation, are sufficiently robust to justify their use.
“We are aware that the use of behaviour change interventions is not without controversy. We will also be considering the social and ethical issues associated with such interventions and asking what role should be given to public consultation and public engagement.”
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Last Updated: 07/30/2010 | Source: House of Lords - Press Release - 30 July 2010
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