Robert West

Our new paper provides up-to-date evidence on cigarette consumption across Great Britain.

🟡~28.6 billion cigarettes are smoked each year.

🟡There are persistent disparities across socioeconomic groups, regions, and nations.

academic.oup.com/ntr/advance-... @ntrjournal.bsky.social

Just released a new episode of the Unlocking Behaviour Change podcast. This series is tackling decision-making and this episode is all about the importance of the way that decisions are 'framed' (e.g., Shall I do X or not? which of X, Y or Z shall I choose?) www.podbean.com/ep/pb-rdhpx-...

I've just launched the latest episode in the Unlocking Behaviour Change podcast series, and it is the very first public airing of a new general framework for understanding and analysing real-world decisions - called FACET. So do check it out and leave comments. www.podbean.com/ep/pb-tgudh-...

YouTube video by Human Behaviour Change Project Instructions on how to use the HBCP Prediction Tool

The Human Behaviour Change Project 'Prediction Tool' has just had a revamp. It uses interpretable machine learning applied to rich ontologised data extracted from ~500 RCTs to predict smoking cessation outcomes in novel scenarios. Here's a link to a video about the tool youtu.be/fUvfXmeZhnM

Can't wait for the launch of APRICOT? 🍑

We got you covered: Here, Robert West is introducing himself and giving you a small peak into what he will be speaking about at the launch.

Don't forget to register:
🗓️ 17 June 2025
⏰ 3:30 PM (UK Time)
🎥 Online
👉 Register now: ucl.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Just posted the 3rd podcast in the Unlocking Behaviour Change series. This first series of podcasts is being done while Jamie West and I finalise our new book on decision making, so comments are very welcome ... here's a link to the podcast www.podbean.com/ep/pb-yavwn-...

🧠 Bonus for early birds!
Register early for the BCTO training and get first access to a free workshop with Prof @robertjwest.bsky.social on the CACTISS Tool - a practical, step-by-step method to identify aspects of capability, opportunity & motivation to target - and how to use it to select BCTs.

We also have the last few places remaining on our Principles & Practice of Systems Mapping course on 3 July!
🔗https://www.ucl.ac.uk/behaviour-change/advanced-modules-behaviour-change
@viviantonop.bsky.social @robertjwest.bsky.social

Looking for other advanced training? On 1 July join Prof @robertjwest.bsky.social for an in-depth guide to decision-making and motivation, with plenty of time for discussion and interactivity.
🔗https://www.ucl.ac.uk/behaviour-change/advanced-modules-behaviour-change

A reply to a reply.

Ralph Hertwig @susanmichie.bsky.social @robertjwest.bsky.social & Stephen Reicher respond to a commentary from Luc Bovens on their BPP paper.

doi.org/10.1017/bpp....

Quote from article: "the widely adopted 'nudge' approach epitomizes an individualistic, deficit model of human cognition and motivation...we argue that tackling the challenges facing humanity requires a collective, capacity-building approach – one that boosts the competences, opportunities, and motivations of individuals to act together.

🚨 New article on 'Moving from nudging to boosting: empowering behaviour change to address global challenges' by Ralph Hertwig, @susanmichie.bsky.social, @robertjwest.bsky.social & Stephen Reicher.
🔗You can read it here: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

YouTube video by Grant Wakefield LONG COVID 'HIJACK' DAY 2024

Here is a short video about Long COVID - something we all need to be aware of as it is devasting people's lives and is a very good reason why we should normalise perfectly reasonable precautions against airborne viruses. youtu.be/mqIxyammvXE?...

Communicating public health research with Sarah Jackson, Martin Jarvis and Robert West | Addiction Audio The podcast from the journal Addiction

New Addiction Audio: Communicating public health research with @drsarahejackson.bsky.social, Martin Jarvis and @robertjwest.bsky.social. Elle Wadsworth talks to 3 generations of tobacco/nicotine researchers about their recent editorial ‘The price of a cigarette: 20 minutes of life?’

Finally, we have a published version of the paper describing the ontology for capturing information about recipients of interventions. It's out for peer review but open to comments from all interested parties so do have a look and stress test it! wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/10-...

We're going to be focusing on using ML to predict intervention outcomes - something that we don't do enough but should be core business for behavioural scientists.

A blue and grey slide with the text 'Using Analytic AI to improve Behavioural Research'. Dr Janna Hastings Universities of St. Gallen and Zurich. Professor Susan Michie, University College London and Professor Robert West, University College London' What you'll learn: What analytical AI is How it can classify knowledge, undertake reasoning and make predictions from data Understand how ontologies and machine learning can build tools to identify studies relevant to a research question, capture key information, and to use those data to make predictions of outcomes in novel intervention scenarios

We are a week away from the second webinar in our AI in behavioural research series, focusing on Analytical AI, covering its use in classifying knowledge, reasoning, and making predictions from data.
📅 11:30am, 12 March 2025.
Sign up below: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

With speakers @jannahastings.bsky.social, @susanmichie.bsky.social & @robertjwest.bsky.social

The populist right is damaging US science. The UK could be next. What we should be doing now to insulate UK science against the populist anti-science agenda

The populist right is damaging US science. The UK could be next.
open.substack.com/pub/kityates...

The programme for #BCConf2025 is here! 🎉 2 days (2-3 April), 3 inspiring keynotes, 13 panel discussions/symposia, and over 200 projects showcased in oral presentations and posters!
In-person tickets are sold out but you can register to watch online.
👉 Find out more: www.ucl.ac.uk/behaviour-ch...

‘Dark Apps’ uncovered: popular alcohol tracking apps backed by the alcohol industry mislead users - Institute of Alcohol Studies Apps to reduce drinking that are provided by alcohol industry-funded charities have been found to contain misinformation and may even increase drinking. Dr Roy-Highley and Professor Mark Petticrew exp...

How do apps backed by the alcohol industry mislead users & risk increasing the amount users drink?

In our latest blog, Elliott Roy-Highley & @markpetticrew.bsky.social look at the content of industry apps.

"It exemplifies the subtle ways that industry actors use...

www.ias.org.uk/2025/02/25/d...

youtube.com/watch?v=D8vt...

A blue and grey slide with the text 'Using Analytic AI to improve Behavioural Research'. Dr Janna Hastings Universities of St. Gallen and Zurich. Professor Susan Michie, University College London and Professor Robert West, University College London' What you'll learn: What analytical AI is How it can classify knowledge, undertake reasoning and make predictions from data Understand how ontologies and machine learning can build tools to identify studies relevant to a research question, capture key information, and to use those data to make predictions of outcomes in novel intervention scenarios

You can now sign up for the second webinar in our AI in Behavioural Research series.
This session focuses on analytical AI, how it classifies knowledge, undertakes reasoning & more.
📅 11:30am, 12 March 2025.
Register Here: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

A blue and grey slide with the text 'Responsible use of AI in behavioural research'. Dr Janna Hastings Universities of St. Gallen and Zurich. Professor Susan Michie, University College London and Professor Robert West, University College London' What you'll learn: Understand the ethical challenges related to the use of AI in behavioural research How to mitigate these challenges while maximising the benefit

Our third and final #AI webinar is also open for registration. In this webinar our speakers @jannahastings.bsky.social, @susanmichie.bsky.social & @robertjwest.bsky.social will explore ethical challenges in AI for behavioural research.
📅 1pm, 12 May 2025. us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Modeling the Potential Health, Health Economic, and Health Inequality Impact of a Large-Scale Rollout of the Drink Less App in England Alcohol places a significant burden on the National Health Service (NHS); yet, uptake of cost-effective approaches remains low. Digital interventions may overcome some barriers to delivery. The Drink ...

The Drink Less app goes from strength to strength. Here is an economic evaluation of the likely impact of rolling it out across England www.valueinhealthjournal.com/article/S109...

I worked in the MoD in the late 1970s and it was my opinion then and it remains today that the US was not a trustworthy ally. Now it has made its intentions clear - to install far right puppet governments in Europe. We have a fight on our hands.

Defense Against Dishonest Charts This is a guide to protect ourselves and to preserve what is good about turning data into visual things.

This excellent interactive tutorial on misleading data visualizations explores the idea of a "counter chart" — the graph you draw in response to refute a misleading claims

flowingdata.com/projects/dis...

Welcome to the Bluesky account for Stand Up for Science 2025!

Keep an eye on this space for updates, event information, and ways to get involved. We can't wait to see everyone #standupforscience2025 on March 7th, both in DC and locations nationwide!

#scienceforall #sciencenotsilence

ChatGTPorn: Too busy watching porn to take over the world … ChatGTPorn: Too busy watching porn to take over the world … Here, unedited is a conversation my brother, Jonathan, had with Chat GPT. [Jon] "On a lighter note, I told my son that we have nothing to f...

My brother, Jonathan, sent me a transcript in which he asked ChatGPT whether, AI will end up being too busy watching porn to take over the world. This was the response - unedited. docs.google.com/document/d/1...

The UK's National Institute of Health and Care Excellent (NICE) has just published its comprehensive updated guidance on the prevention and treatment of tobacco dependence. A 'must-read' for commissioners and providers of smoking cessation support www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng209

Relatedly, crash injuries in Wales have fallen ~28% since the 2023 adoption of 20 mph as an urban standard.

Slower traffic --> Fewer crashes --> Lower insurance rates