Designing Interventions
You have applied for a job with the Behavioural Insights Team (aka the Nudge Unit). As part of the interview process, they have given you two briefs. You have been asked to tackle ONE of the two briefs and develop a feasible and viable intervention. However as both briefs are rather large they have suggested that you focus on just one aspect of the issue, and to work with a limited population. Try not to fall into the trap of trying to understand/solve the complete issue; just focus on one behavioral aspect that contributes to the issue.
Brief 1: Increase Blood Donations Level. The NHS Blood and Transplant Unit (NHSBT) is the organisation responsible for blood and organ donation in the UK. Although they are always looking for initiatives to increase blood donations, in 2015 it was announced that 204,000 new volunteers are needed to ensure that the UKs bloodstocks remain at a safe level for the future. Unless there is a big shift in the behaviour of the general public this situation is unlikely to change. In 2015, 40% fewer new volunteers came forward across England and North Wales to give blood last year compared to a decade ago. As a result of this NHSBT are looking at how behavioural economics and behaviour change techniques can be used to increase both the number of people who donate blood and the frequency in which people donate blood.
For a quick introduction to the topic see: https:// www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jun/05/sharp-drop-new-blood-donors-uk-stocks-at-risk
