The ethics of conducting behavioural research The ethics of conducting behavioural researchBehavioural research plays an increasingly influential role in shaping policies, services, and everyday decision-making. With this influence comes ethical responsibility. This seminar explores the ethical principles that underpin behavioural research and how they can be meaningfully applied in practice. We will examine key ethical issues including equity, transparency, accountability, and the responsible use of emerging tools such as artificial intelligence. Attention will be given to how funding sources, organisational values, and vested interests can shape research agendas and interpretations, often in subtle ways. The seminar also highlights the relational nature of behavioural research, recognising how relationships with participants, partners, and policy-makers influence ethical choices. Rather than treating ethics as a fixed set of rules, we frame it as an evolving, culturally shaped practice that requires ongoing reflection. Through practical examples, the seminar aims to support researchers, practitioners, and policy professionals in translating ethical principles into everyday decisions, particularly in non-traditional and policy-oriented behavioural research contexts.The first speaker Professor Robert West, Professor Emeritus of Health Psychology, University College London, will introduce some of the ethical issues that relate to research more generally and some are specific to behavioural research. These issues concern: what topics we choose to work on, whom we choose to work with, how we go about our work, and how we interact with colleagues and stakeholders. Behavioural science involves influencing the behaviour of other people and this places a special responsibility for us to consider both wellbeing and autonomy.The second speaker, Professor Jessica Pykett, Professor of Social and Political Geography, University of Birmingham, addresses how ethics of behavioural research relate to problem framing, cultures of expertise and evidence pluralism. She will consider how ethics knowledge is defined, how ethics skills are developed and how ethics preparedness is institutionalised matters for the translation of behavioural research into policy.The third speaker Professor Liam Delaney, Head of Department for Psychological and Behavioural Science, London School of Economics, will discuss embedding ethics in behavioural public policy and outline a pragmatic approach to evaluating behavioural interventions and capacities across multiple dimensions including fairness, openness, respect, goals, public opinion, policy alternatives and institutional legitimacy.The webinar will be chaired by Susan Michie, Co-Director of BR-UK. Apr 14 2026 13.00 - 14.30 The ethics of conducting behavioural research Join us to explore the ethical principles that underpin behavioural research and how they can be meaningfully applied in practice. Online via Zoom Platform Register to attend
The ethics of conducting behavioural research The ethics of conducting behavioural researchBehavioural research plays an increasingly influential role in shaping policies, services, and everyday decision-making. With this influence comes ethical responsibility. This seminar explores the ethical principles that underpin behavioural research and how they can be meaningfully applied in practice. We will examine key ethical issues including equity, transparency, accountability, and the responsible use of emerging tools such as artificial intelligence. Attention will be given to how funding sources, organisational values, and vested interests can shape research agendas and interpretations, often in subtle ways. The seminar also highlights the relational nature of behavioural research, recognising how relationships with participants, partners, and policy-makers influence ethical choices. Rather than treating ethics as a fixed set of rules, we frame it as an evolving, culturally shaped practice that requires ongoing reflection. Through practical examples, the seminar aims to support researchers, practitioners, and policy professionals in translating ethical principles into everyday decisions, particularly in non-traditional and policy-oriented behavioural research contexts.The first speaker Professor Robert West, Professor Emeritus of Health Psychology, University College London, will introduce some of the ethical issues that relate to research more generally and some are specific to behavioural research. These issues concern: what topics we choose to work on, whom we choose to work with, how we go about our work, and how we interact with colleagues and stakeholders. Behavioural science involves influencing the behaviour of other people and this places a special responsibility for us to consider both wellbeing and autonomy.The second speaker, Professor Jessica Pykett, Professor of Social and Political Geography, University of Birmingham, addresses how ethics of behavioural research relate to problem framing, cultures of expertise and evidence pluralism. She will consider how ethics knowledge is defined, how ethics skills are developed and how ethics preparedness is institutionalised matters for the translation of behavioural research into policy.The third speaker Professor Liam Delaney, Head of Department for Psychological and Behavioural Science, London School of Economics, will discuss embedding ethics in behavioural public policy and outline a pragmatic approach to evaluating behavioural interventions and capacities across multiple dimensions including fairness, openness, respect, goals, public opinion, policy alternatives and institutional legitimacy.The webinar will be chaired by Susan Michie, Co-Director of BR-UK. Apr 14 2026 13.00 - 14.30 The ethics of conducting behavioural research Join us to explore the ethical principles that underpin behavioural research and how they can be meaningfully applied in practice. Online via Zoom Platform Register to attend
Apr 14 2026 13.00 - 14.30 The ethics of conducting behavioural research Join us to explore the ethical principles that underpin behavioural research and how they can be meaningfully applied in practice.
