Behavioural operational research (BOR) is a relatively new emerging area within the discipline of operational research. It is interested in examining behavioural issues within the context of model-supported problem solving and decision making, as well as in using models to describe human behaviour in complex settings. To learn more about this exciting growing area, please visit the other pages on this site.
The 3rd Behavioural OR Summer School was organised online in 20 – 24 September 2021 by the European Working Group on Behavioural OR.
The exciting programme was delivered by pioneering professors in the field. Most sessions included an interactive element and covered different aspects of behavioural OR, including methodological aspects. During the sessions, participants had the opportunity to describe their research ideas or projects with our experienced speakers and get valuable feedback.
Overall, the participants were happy with the Summer School and this was reflected in their enthusiastic feedback. “Excellent speakers and presentations, literature heavy (in a good way), suitable for beginners and those who know a bit more.”
“Presentation by leading scholars in the area”
“It was really inspiring because it has excellent speakers”
“The material and speaker were great”
The participants also commented the diverse topics covered in the Summer School:
“The diversity of inputs and hence the given overview of different behavioural aspects to consider in OR.”
“I received a lot of practical information, very easily presented”
“I learned a lot about behavioral economics and the instruments it uses.”
The online interactive sessions also gained praise from the participants:
“The good mix between interactive sessions and lectures. The fact that many topics were within a very “hands-on” spirit and that the lecturers made an effort to add additional information for further research.”
Full Programme (pdf)
Please click the links on the programme to view presentation slides
Session 1: Behavioural considerations in the formulation of objectives
Monday 20 September 2021, 12:30 -16:30 (BST)
In this session, participants will learn about behavioural research that examines what people do when asked to think about objectives. In addition, they will experience the process of formulating objectives through an online interactive exercise set within the context of a decision they are currently facing. Finally, participants will have the opportunity to try methods designed to improve their ability to identify and structure multiple objectives.
Schedule
| 12:30 | Welcome and introductions | L. Alberto Franco | Loughborough University, UK & Radboud University, The Netherlands |
| 12:40 | Introduction to value-focused thinking | Johannes Siebert | Management Center Innsbruck, Germany |
| 13:00 | Identifying objectives | ||
| 13:30 | Break (15’) | ||
| 13:45 | Formulation of objectives | ||
| 14:15 | Break (15’) | ||
| 14:30 | Structuring of objectives | ||
| 15:15 | Break (15’) | ||
| 15:30 | Give yourself a nudge | Ralph Keeney | Duke University, US |
| 16:15 | Selected participant presentations and/or general Q&A | Johannes Siebert | Management Center Innsbruck, Germany |
| 16:30 | End |
View the recording from Monday
Session 2: Behavioural considerations in participatory modelling
Tuesday 21 September 2021, 08:30 -12:30 (BST)
In this session, participants will learn about behavioural research that examines what people do when asked to support a participatory modelling process. After an introduction to the role of leadership in participatory modelling processes, participants will explore the extent to which competences and behaviour affect the conduct of a participatory modelling process.
Schedule
| 08:30 | Welcome and introductions | Etiënne Rouwette | Radboud University, The Netherlands |
| 08:40 | Leadership in participatory modelling | Raimo Hämäläinen | Aalto University, Finland |
| 09:40 | Break (10’) | ||
| 09:50 | Participatory modelling competences | Sondoss El Sawah | University of New South Wales Australia |
| 10:50 | Break (10’) | ||
| 11:00 | Ethical issues in modelling | Alec Morton | University of Strathclyde, UK |
| 11:40 | Break (10′) | ||
| 11:50 | Practice Theory | Richard Ormerod | University of Warwick, UK |
| 12:20 | End |
View the recording from Tuesday
Session 3: Behavioural considerations in elicitation processes
Thursday 23 September 2021, 12:30 -16:30 (BST)
In this session, participants will explore research that examines preference elements required for formal use in prescriptive decision analysis, specifically MAVT/MAUT. Insights from Behavioural OR studies concerning preference elicitation in a variety of settings will be discussed, including face-to-face interviews, group decision-making, and online preference elicitation. Participants will have the opportunity to experience some online preference elicitation processes. In addition, participants will learn about biases that matter in elicitation processes and how to avoid them.
Schedule
| 12:30 | Welcome and introductions | Judit Lienert | Eawag, Switzerland |
| 12:40 | Overview of behavioural issues in preference elicitation processes | Judit Lienert | Eawag, Switzerland |
| 13:30 | Break (10’) | ||
| 13:40 | Multi-party online preference elicitation without facilitation support | Alice Aubert, Judit Lienert | Eawag, Switzerland |
| 14:30 | Break (10’) | ||
| 14:40 | Interactive preference elicitation exercise | ||
| 15:30 | Break (10’) | ||
| 15:40 | Biases that matter in elicitation processes and how to avoid them | Gilberto Montibeller | Loughborough University, UK |
| 16:30 | End |
View the recording from Thursday: Part 1, Part 2
Session 4: Methodological considerations in the design and conduct of BOR studies
Friday 24 September 2021, 08:30 -12:30 (BST)
In this session, participants will learn about a sample of approaches to the design and conduct of Behavioural OR studies. After an introduction to different approaches to researching behaviour in an OR-supported context, participants will explore issues to consider in the design of behavioural experiments, pre-test and post-test evaluations, and process studies.
Schedule
| 08:30 | Welcome and introductions | Raimo Hämäläinen | Aalto University, Finland |
| 08:40 | Three ways of conducting BOR studies: variance, process and modelling approaches | L. Alberto Franco | Loughborough University, UK & Radboud University, The Netherlands |
| 09:30 | Break (10’) | ||
| 09:40 | Issues in the design of behavioural experiments | Ilkka Leppanen | Loughborough University, UK |
| 10:30 | Break (10’) | ||
| 10:40 | Issues in the design of pre-test and post-test evaluation studies | Etiënne Rouwette | Radboud University, The Netherlands |
| 11:30 | Break (10’) | ||
| 11:40 | Issues in conducting process studies | L. Alberto Franco | Loughborough University, UK& Radboud University, The Netherlands |
| 12:30 | End |
View the recording from Friday: Part 1, Part 2
Feedback session and virtual drinks
Friday 12:30 -13:30 (BST)
Speakers
Johannes Siebert (Management Center Innsbruck, Germany) (link)
Ralph Keeney(Duke University, USA) (link)
Raimo Hämäläinen (Aalto University, Finland) (link)
Sondoss El Sawah (University of New South Wales Australia) (link)
Alec Morton (University of Strathclyde, UK) (link)
Richard Ormerod (University of Warwick, UK) (link)
Judit Lienert (Eawag, Switzerland) (link)
Valerie Belton (University of Strathclyde, UK) (link)
Alice Aubert (Eawag, Switzerland) (link)
Gilberto Montibeller (Loughborough University, UK) (link)
L. Alberto Franco (Loughborough University, UK) (link)
Ilkka Leppanen (Loughborough University, UK) (link)
Etiënne Rouwette (Radboud University, The Netherlands) (link)