Jan 16Speaking truthHow focus group discussions enrich communication campaigns — by Monica Kay and Alina Ojha Conversations have an interesting effect on your mood, your thought process, and even your behavior. If the discussions are engaging enough, you might offer your own words of wisdom and change someone else’s perspective. Conversation is a dance, but it’s also music. Our series…Low Cost Testing4 min readLow Cost Testing4 min read
Dec 20, 2022When the measure is broken the solution is wrong — Part 2.A project on intimate partner violence in Nairobi shows why choosing the right measure matters. — by Shalin Desai, Krittika Gorur, Joel Wambua and Patrick Forscher Measures enable us to estimate behavior change due to a particular intervention. In research settings, reliable and valid measures are a prerequisite to answer research questions and draw conclusions about the world. In applied settings, good measures form the basis…Behavioral Science5 min readBehavioral Science5 min read
Dec 16, 2022When the measure is broken the solution is wrong — Part 1Building measures that are contextually relevant in India. — by Krittika Gorur , Shalin Desai, Joel Wambua and Patrick Forscher It is impossible to say whether or not an intervention works if we cannot measure it effectively. Measures enable us to estimate behavior change due to a particular intervention. If the measures are broken, then the process may be…Behavioral Science3 min readBehavioral Science3 min read
Dec 14, 2022Pick and chooseUsing A/B testing to refine campaign messages — By Monica Kay and Alina Ojha Deciding which message works for a given audience should be considered an extreme sport given all the context, nuances, and innuendo you have to sift through to make that choice. What if, instead of mind olympics, choices came down to “this or that”, and…Ab Testing4 min readAb Testing4 min read
Published in The Busara Blog·Sep 23, 2022A partnership to teachTraining the next generation of behavioral scientists with the MIT Governance Lab — By Busara and MIT GOV/LAB In recent years, behavioral sciences, or ways to better understand determinants of human behavior, have emerged as a leading innovation across disciplines and sectors. These novel methods and data allow us to measure what incentivizes individual and group behavior to inform numerous interventions (e.g., targeted…Behavioral Science4 min readBehavioral Science4 min read
Published in The Busara Blog·Jul 21, 2022Meeting the markTesting communication campaigns using the Low-cost Message Testing Guide — By Monica Kay and Alina Ojha Precision is the tell of extraordinary marksmanship. However, it is preceded by numerous missed shots, form adjustment, choice of weapon, and the strength of character to keep shooting better. Precision, therefore, is a process of trial, error, and eventual victory. …Behavioral Economics4 min readBehavioral Economics4 min read
Published in The Busara Blog·Jul 5, 2022What to look at when approaching family planning initiativesBy Pathfinder International (1) and Busara Center for Behavioral Economics (2) Imagine relationships in a world without the internet, smartphones, or Google. Our minds immediately go to a world of old movies where carrier pigeons were the messengers of love! …Family Planning5 min readFamily Planning5 min read
Published in The Busara Blog·Jun 15, 2022Driving behavior change in the face of COVIDIs increasing access to reliable information effective? — By Edel Koki A decision alone is not enough, it must be an informed one. To achieve highly impactful decisions, one must have access to quality information, shared through the right reliable channels, and at the right time. Living through a global pandemic is one instance where quality information is…Smallholderfarmers4 min readSmallholderfarmers4 min read
Published in The Busara Blog·Apr 29, 2022Insurance bundled with loansMaximizing smallholder farmer uptake of insured loans — By Maryam Anike Yusuf — Associate, Busara Center for Behavioral Economics The need for agricultural insurance cannot be understated, and with a whopping 97% of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa being uninsured (as at 2018), accessibility is priority. To this end, bundling insurance with loans has become a popular choice. …Smallholderfarmers3 min readSmallholderfarmers3 min read
Published in The Busara Blog·Apr 7, 2022Digital credit’s impact potentialCan digital credit be a tool to reduce poverty — Digital credit remains out of reach for many people in developing nations, preventing them from realizing their full potential. Even with low overhead costs and the ability to reach the unbanked, there is still much to be done for digital credit to live up to expectations. In this final blog…Digital Credit5 min readDigital Credit5 min read
