Center for Social Norms & Behavioral Dynamics
Research
From the Center
Ongoing Projects include
Intervention to strengthen norms of sanitation in India
Survey as part of a rapid-response study on the impact of COVID-19 on social norms
Assessment of norm-building in exceptional environments
Assessment of the factors supporting corruption in Nigeria
Study of the role of trendsetters in the growth of the Swachh Bharat mission
Sociocentric network analysis of Indian communities
Key Report, Guides and Manual Publications from the Center
More research and writing
Collective Action on Corruption in Nigeria: A Social Norms Approach to Connecting Society and Institutions
This report aims to diagnose what drives corrupt behaviour in Nigeria, and the types of beliefs that support practices understood to be corrupt. Its findings are based largely on a national household survey jointly developed by the Chatham House Africa Programme and the University of Pennsylvania’s Social Norms Group (PennSONG), in collaboration with Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics as well as a network of academics and practitioners from Nigerian universities and NGOs. The findings present new evidence of the social beliefs and expectations that influence some day-today forms of corruption in Nigeria. Fuller details of the survey and associated research are given in the body of the report, as well as in the annex to the main text.
Shifting Social Norms to Mitigate Climate Change in the Anthropocene: A Review and Practical Guide
In this upcoming publication we synthesize the literature on social norm creation, change, and measurement from the perspectives of psychology, anthropology, sociology, and economics, and discuss opportunities and challenges for the application of social norm interventions to promote climate action. We argue that social norm interventions aimed at climate action and/or other social dilemmas are promising but no panacea. They require in-depth contextual knowledge and a high degree of tailoring and problem-specific pre-testing before they can be effectively implemented at scale. Our review tries to provide policy makers with the insights and tools to do so.
Sustaining Safe Sanitation and Hygiene Practices through Enhanced Behavior Change Communication Models
This report summarizes the pre-training preparatory field visit to Nambale and Nyando Districts that took place on November 29 and 30, and the training work done at the Morendat Training Centre in Naivasha from December 3 to December 6. The training revolved around Cristina Bicchieri’s account of social norms (cf. her The Grammar of Society, Cambridge University Press, 2005.) The main aim of the training was to show how the Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach to eradicate open defecation and Social Norm Theory (SNT) can be readily harmonized and how elements of CLTS can be better understood when looked at through the lens of SNT.
In Science we (should) trust: expectations and compliance during the Covid-19 pandemic
The magnitude and nature of the COVID-19 pandemic prevents public health policies from relying on coercive enforcement. Practicing social distancing, wearing masks and staying at home are voluntary and conditional on the behavior of others. We present the results of a large-scale survey experiment in nine countries with representative samples of the population. We find that both empirical expectations (what others do) and normative expectations (what others approve of) play a significant role in compliance, beyond the effect of any other individual or group characteristic. Our results are driven by an asymmetric interaction with individuals’ trust in government and science.
The Role of Trendsetters in the Popularization and Adoption of the Swachh Bharat Mission
This UNICEF India report sheds light on whether (and to what degree) trendsetters were involved and may have influenced the social diffusion of Swachh Bharat Mission in India. Understanding who trendsetters are and how they can be motivated to act is an important step in building a comprehensive theory of social change. The present research is particularly important for India’s policy efforts post-ODF, as continuous support from stakeholders is necessary to sustain toilet use and maintenance.
Social Determinants of Open Defecation: Phase 1 Materials
In the first phase of our study of the social determinants of open defecation in India, we have produced a report detailing how social networks influence latrine ownership. We also explore demographic predictors of ownership and use and how our findings differ from existing literature. We explore how these network data link to norms data in our Phase 2 report.
Social Determinants of Open Defecation: Phase 2 Materials
In the second phase of our study of the social determinants of open defecation in India, we have produced a report detailing our diagnosis of a series of collective behaviors relevant to open defecation. We also describe patterns among our norms data to previously collected social network data. Furthermore, we track changes over time and other relevant patterns.
UNICEF-Mali: Normes sociales liées à Le mariage d’enfants
This report aims to analyze social norms related to child marriage and the eating habits of children under the age of 2 in the Sikasso and Kayes regions. The results of the study will enable UNICEF to better inform its chapters and Mali to better understand the socio-cultural dynamics that hinder the change of gender in relation to child marriage, exclusive breastfeeding and complementary feeding.
Social Norms Manual: Zimbabwe and Swaziland
A Social Norms Manual produced for Zimbabwe and Swaziland as part of the UNICEF Office of Research’s Multi-Country Study on the Drivers of Violence Affecting Children. This manual serves as a guide to key concepts in the social norms framework with examples pertaining to the countries and programming areas.
Social Norms Manual: Viet Nam, Indonesia and the Philippines
Drawing on several intellectual traditions and methods, including those of social psychology, experimental economics and evolutionary game theory, Bicchieri provides an integrated account of how social norms emerge, why and when we follow them, and the situations where we are most likely to focus on relevant norms.
UNICEF Pakistan: WASH Sustainability Check
This study focuses on Rural ODF Status (exclusive latrine use in ODF certified villages – behavioral sustainability) and continued functionality of RWSS (drinking water only) in the geographic region of two provinces in Pakistan, Sindh and Punjab. Our chief role was to develop, integrate and analyze social norms measures as part of the larger sustainability check. This report presents those methods, measures and findings.
Applying Social Norms Theory in CATS Programming
The primary goal of this document is to provide the necessary information on the importance, nature and application of the theory of social norms to sanitation specialists. This document distills insights from joint collaborations with UNICEF, and aims to promote positive social change with regard to many harmful collective patterns of behavior related to sanitation.
more research and writing
Key Books and Reports
Norms in the Wild
Is it possible to change social expectations around forced marriage, genital mutilations, and public health practices like vaccinations and sanitation? If so, how? What tools might we use? This short book explores how social norms work, and how changing them – changing preferences, beliefs, and especially social expectations – can potentially improve lives all around the world.
Grammar of Society
Drawing on several intellectual traditions and methods, including those of social psychology, experimental economics and evolutionary game theory, Bicchieri provides an integrated account of how social norms emerge, why and when we follow them, and the situations where we are most likely to focus on relevant norms.
Nadar en Contra de la Corriente
2019 Spanish translated version of Bicchieri’s Norms in the Wild (2016). A partir de una rigurosa investigación, Cristina Bicchieri ofrece en estas páginas elementos para entender cómo se relacionan las acciones individuales con los comportamientos grupales, y comprueba con evidencias que es posible transformar una sociedad a través de la educación y mediante las actuaciones individuales.
Collective Action on Corruption in Nigeria
This report aims to diagnose what drives corrupt behavior in Nigeria, and the types of beliefs that support practices understood to be corrupt. The findings present new evidence of the social beliefs and expectations that influence some day-to-day forms of corruption in Nigeria. Fuller details of the survey and associated research are given in the body of the report, as well as in an annex.
more research and writing
Literature from the Center
more research and writing