Programs

Behavioral Science & Policy Initiative

Research Program

Behavioral Science & Policy Initiative

The Schaeffer Institute’s Behavioral Science & Policy Initiative aims to understand how people think, talk and make decisions about key policy topics, including healthcare, food and climate change. Our insights help create effective messaging and interventions that better fit people’s needs.

Program Leadership

Wändi Bruine de Bruin, MSc, PhD

Director, Behavioral Sciences and Policy Initiative
Senior Scholar, USC Schaeffer Institute

Latest Work View All

Evidence Base

How to Protect Yourself Against Wildfire Smoke This Fire Season: Five Tips in Everyday Language (Updated)

Helpful tips on staying protected from wildfire smoke.

Featured Experts: Wändi Bruine de Bruin

Journal Article

Global Public Concerns about Climate Change: the Role of Education, Direct Experience, and Indirect Experience

News

Most Medicare Beneficiaries Do Not Compare Prescription Drug Plans – And May Be Sticking with Bad Plans

Journal Article

Medicare Part D Beneficiaries’ Self-reported Barriers to Switching Plans and Making Plan Comparisons at All

In The News View All

USC Price

Want to Raise Concern About Climate Change? Tell Someone’s Story

Featured Experts: Wändi Bruine de Bruin

Psychology Today

Using familiar language to discuss climate change is most persuasive, Bruine de Bruin’s research shows

Featured Experts: Wändi Bruine de Bruin

The Washington Post

To get people to eat more plant-based food, don’t use the term vegan, explains Bruine de Bruin

Featured Experts: Wändi Bruine de Bruin

The Hill

A Simple Way to Reduce Overdose Deaths: Tell Doctors When Patients Die

Featured Experts: Jason Doctor, Mireille Jacobson

NPR

Bruine de Bruin aims for clearer messaging on climate change

Featured Experts: Wändi Bruine de Bruin

What is Behavioral Science?

Behavioral Science is a growing interdisciplinary field that combines insights from psychology, economics, and other social sciences to understand how people perceive risks, how they process information about risks, and what motivates attitude and behavior change.

Go Deeper View All

Using Nudges to Reduce Opioid Prescribing

A Randomized Trial Looking at Planning Prompts to Reduce Opioid Prescribing

The study confirmed the benefit of planning prompts, and repeat letter exposure among clinicians with poor patient outcomes.

Healthcare Decision-Making

Experts: Jason Doctor, Tara Knight, Emily Stewart

Why Higher Copayments for Opioids Did Not Reduce Use Among Medicare Beneficiaries

‘Nudges’ to Reduce Opioid Overuse Also Decrease Inappropriate Benzodiazepine Prescriptions

Want Safer Prescribing? Provide Doctors With a Plan for Helping Patients in Pain

Behavioral Science and Policy Initiative Academic Council

**Allison Agsten**,
USC Annenberg Center for Climate Journalism

**Joe Arvai**,
USC Dornsife Wrigley Institute for Environment & Sustainability

**Jason Doctor**,
USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics

**Kayla de la Haye**,
USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research

**Norbert Schwarz**,
USC Dornsife Mind & Society Center

**Gülden Ülkümen**,
USC Marshall School of Business Department of Marketing

Get Involved

Join the USC Behavioral Science Society

The USC Behavioral Science Society brings together students and post-docs from across the university who are interested in behavioral science, behavioral economics, behavioral decision making, psychology, and other related academic fields with applications to health, finances, sustainability, and security.

Behavioral Science Society

Events View All

The Behavioral Science and Policy Initiative hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including a regular seminar series.