How a NASA framework is inspiring a new approach in behavioral science
At TDL, we talk a lot about evidence-based decision-making. And when I say a lot, I mean A LOT. Huddled around our beloved coffee machine, we share insights on cool new research methods, surprising observations from user interviews, and evidence-driven ideas for digital products. We spend countless meetings (and emoji-filled Slack messages) determining how to best collect evidence, and how to apply insights to make important decisions across organizations, non-profits, research institutions, and regulatory agencies.
Suffice it to say, evidence is a core part of what we do. But, the evidence that we gather in a consumer research project varies drastically from the evidence created in a larger behavior change pilot. As we commune around our coffee machine, it can be difficult to concretely talk about different types of insights, and, importantly, what these insights mean for our partners and clients.
So, is there a better way that we can talk about behavioral insights? Can we better express when our work can reliably, equitably, and sustainability drive behavior change? Spoiler Alert: There is. And it’s inspired by a NASA-driven idea: The Technology Readiness Levels.
About the Author
Alexi Michael
Alexi is a Consultant at The Decision Lab. Her expertise is multidisciplinary, spanning the fields of social innovation, artificial intelligence, and human-centered design.
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I was blown away with their application and translation of behavioral science into practice. They took a very complex ecosystem and created a series of interventions using an innovative mix of the latest research and creative client co-creation. I was so impressed at the final product they created, which was hugely comprehensive despite the large scope of the client being of the world's most far-reaching and best known consumer brands. I'm excited to see what we can create together in the future.
Heather McKee
BEHAVIORAL SCIENTIST
GLOBAL COFFEEHOUSE CHAIN PROJECT
OUR CLIENT SUCCESS
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Annual Revenue Increase
By launching a behavioral science practice at the core of the organization, we helped one of the largest insurers in North America realize $30M increase in annual revenue.
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Increase in Monthly Users
By redesigning North America's first national digital platform for mental health, we achieved a 52% lift in monthly users and an 83% improvement on clinical assessment.
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Reduction In Design Time
By designing a new process and getting buy-in from the C-Suite team, we helped one of the largest smartphone manufacturers in the world reduce software design time by 75%.
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Reduction in Client Drop-Off
By implementing targeted nudges based on proactive interventions, we reduced drop-off rates for 450,000 clients belonging to USA's oldest debt consolidation organizations by 46%
