Hart, Niamh

Davan Wetton, Joanna

Coupe, Nia

Bauld, Linda

Alejandre, Julius Cesar

Michie, Susan

2025-08-27T09:00:19Z

2025-08-27T09:00:19Z

2025-08-20

Who is this review for? This review is intended for policymakers, funders, research leaders, academics and early-career researchers, and practitioners working with or using behavioural research to understand the evolving landscape of UK behavioural research and opportunities for capability building. Purpose: This documentary review synthesises national and international strategy documents (2014–2024) to identify the current and future needs of UK behavioural research. The review examines how strategies propose to strengthen behavioural research capability, highlights strengths, gaps, and opportunities, and assesses the extent to which equalities, diversity, inclusion, intersectionality (EDII), and open science principles are embedded. Background: Behavioural research plays a critical role in addressing societal challenges such as public health, climate change, education, economic wellbeing, and digital transformation. To guide future investment and capability building, it is necessary to understand the current strengths, gaps, and priorities for behavioural research in the UK. Aims: The review aims to: describe current and future needs for UK behavioural research identified in recent behavioural and social research strategies published by or for national and devolved governments and research funders; summarise the ways in which these strategies propose to strengthen behavioural research capability; identify gaps and areas of unmet scientific and stakeholder needs, and areas for advancement. Methods: A documentary review and thematic analysis were conducted following Arksey and O’Malley’s (2005) scoping review framework, Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis guidance, and Morgan’s (2022) recommendations for documentary reviews. Thirty-four eligible documents were systematically identified, screened, and analysed, with themes mapped against four research questions. Results: Eight themes emerged: (1) strengths of behavioural science across key societal domains, (2) ethical and transparent methodologies, (3) the potential of emerging technologies including AI, (4) the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, (5) systems- and population-level approaches, (6) capability and training needs, (7) leadership and advocacy, (8) funding models, and (9) diversity of behavioural researchers. While strategies highlighted the value of behavioural science in policy and practice, they also revealed persistent gaps in workforce skills, interdisciplinary structures, sustainable funding, and intersectionality considerations. Conclusions: Findings underscore the importance of building national capability through stronger ethical frameworks, sustainable funding, systems thinking, and inclusivity. This review provides a foundation for BR-UK’s ongoing scoping study and will inform the development of a national behavioural research network and capability-building strategy.

https://hdl.handle.net/1842/43868

http://dx.doi.org/10.7488/era/6399

en

Behavioural Research UK

behavioural research

capability building

public policy

Current and future priorities for UK behavioural research: A review of national and international strategy documents

Other