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Reflecting Ireland - Financial Planning for Later Life

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:50:05 GMT

The latest issue of PTSB Reflecting Ireland focuses on financial planning for later life.

Present Bias:

In general, we have a tendency to think about our immediate needs and not too much about our future needs. This is known as present bias , and it can get in the way of planning for our future. Although it makes financial sense to plan and invest for the long term, it feels harder to put our money away today.

Good Intentions:

One in three of us intend to make a long-term financial plan, but struggle to get around to it. Women and those in middle age are the most likely to put it on the long finger, but also the most likely to benefit from having a plan in place.

Alleviating Anxiety:

Two thirds of us believe that having a financial plan for our future would help us feel less anxious and more relaxed. Putting a plan in place protects us and those closest to us from future financial stress.

We’re generally not that comfortable talking about personal finances in Ireland, but it pays dividends to talk about it, literally!

Read the full report here :

If you are one of the many that would like to plan for the long-term but haven’t got around to it yet, check our handy reminder of the key things to consider, summarised in the mnemonic P-A-T-H-W-A-Y-S:

P ension

A dvice

T alk

H ealthcare

W ill

A ccessibility

Y our income needs

S avings & Investments

Find out more here :

Reflecting Ireland - Looking Forward to 2026

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 14:14:51 GMT

As 2025 draws to a close, the latest issue of PTSB Reflecting Ireland focuses on how people are feeling about 2026.

AI adoption on the increase:

Although AI adoption is on the rise with 55% using it or planning to, concern about the impact of AI on job security is increasing. Among those under 25, 8 in 10 are very concerned (up from 66% in 2024) and among those in their parents age group (45-54s) 7 in 10 are very concerned (up from 64% in 2024).

Plans to cut back on screentime:

Half of us plan to cut back on screentime, and those under 25 plan to spend less time on social media and more time with family and friends in 2026.

The cost of living continues to worry us:

The high cost of living is one of the top 3 issues facing the country for 3 in 4 people. Many are responding by doing what they can to create a financial buffer; 7 in 10 save on a regular basis or whenever they can, mostly for ‘a rainy day’.

Read the full report here :

Is AI making our brains lazy?

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 18:11:20 GMT

In this thought-provoking article published yesterday on www.rte.ie , Gail Conway explores the issue of how our brains process information in the age of AI, and whether the instant access and convenience it offers is actually making our brains lazy.

It is true that in an effort to conserve mental energy the brain will take the easiest route on offer, so if AI will take on a job for us, particularly if it’s a mundane or time-consuming task, our brains will be happy to comply. Having AI assist us can certainly make our lives easier. However, we still need to stretch our brains to build our own capacity to learn, absorb and remember knowledge.

BehaviourWise was delighted to contribute to this article, in particular to highlight the increasing importance of human judgement and decision-making as AI becomes more prevalent in our personal and working lives. It is a skill in itself to know when and when not to deploy AI, how to direct it and how to manage its output. We believe this skill will become increasingly important as time goes on.

Read the full article here :

Reflecting Ireland - Financial Literacy

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 12:10:12 GMT

The latest issue of PTSB Reflecting Ireland research series published yesterday reveals a gap between the percentage of people that feel they have a good or average level of financial literacy, and those that actually do.

Perception-Reality Gap:

9 in 10 respondents rate themselves as having ‘average’ or ‘high’ financial literacy, however 4 in 10 fail to correctly answer a question on the impact of inflation on purchasing power, and 8 in 10 fail to calculate the impact of Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) on savings interest earned. Questions were taken from a sample Junior Cert level Business exam.

The benefits of good financial literacy:

Financial literacy is an important contributor to financial wellbeing, a core element of overall wellbeing. It is defined by the OECD as a core life skill for the 21 ^st century. Financial literacy helps people make informed decisions about how to manage their money including borrowing, saving, protecting and investing for the future. It supports financial resilience, helping people manage during financially tough times. Good financial literacy helps people feel better about their finances generally.

The toll of low financial literacy:

Those who describe themselves as having low financial literacy are more likely to feel down about their finances (65% vs. 22% among those reporting high financial literacy), to say that money worries keep them awake at night (55% vs. 35%), to feel uncomfortable talking about money issues to close friends or family members (47% vs. 17%) or to anyone else (59% vs. 23%) and to feel anxious about life generally (24% vs. 13%). They are also the least likely to budget, keep track of their spending or seek financial advice.

How Ireland compares:

A 2023 OECD report ranked Ireland 3 ^rd among 39 countries on financial literacy, so relatively speaking Ireland performs well. However, the latest issue of Reflecting Ireland highlights that more work needs to be done to ensure Ireland adopts a more inclusive approach to financial literacy. In February of this year the Irish Government launched Ireland’s first National Financial Literacy Strategy. The 5 year plan covers 2025 to 2029 and aims to promote financial literacy across the whole of Irish society.

Read the full report here :

Reflecting Ireland - Shifting Attitudes to Home Ownership

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 12:06:35 GMT

Published on Friday, the latest issue of PTSB’s Reflecting Ireland research series reveals the impact of rising house prices on attitudes to home ownership.

Ireland remains a nation of aspiring homeowners . For over 8 in 10 (86%) owning our own home is important to us. However, only half that many feel it will ever be possible. Two thirds believe that future generations will find it much harder to own a home.

It’s a tough market for first time buyers as the cost of both buying a home and renting go up, making saving for a deposit more and more difficult. Only 41% have saved enough for a deposit (minimum 10% of purchase price), 33% have some savings in place but not enough for a deposit, while 27% have yet to start saving. As a result, many young people are having to wait longer to move out of the family home and begin living independent lives.

Social housing is growing in appeal. Just under half (46%) of those in the market to buy a home would consider availing of social housing, rising to 61% of 18-24 year olds. One in five (21%) are now considering it for the first time because of how challenging the private market has become.

Many existing homeowners are unaware of potential savings they could make on their mortgage payments. Only 28% of homeowners know they can reduce their mortgage repayments by having a high BER rating, while only 39% of homeowners know what their BER is. Just over 1 in 2 (53%) homeowners know that their LTV could reduce their mortgage repayments, but less than half (47%) of homeowners know what their LTV is.

#ReflectingIreland

Read the full report here :

Reflecting Ireland - Looking Forward to 2025

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 15:50:43 GMT

The latest issue of PTSB Reflecting Ireland focuses on how we feel about living in Ireland as a new year begins. 7 in 10 people believe Ireland is a good place to grow up in, and 6 in 10 say it’s a good place to grow old in. There are however striking differences by age group.

It’s clear that younger age groups are struggling with the cost of renting or owning a home, and that this has a major influence on how they perceive life in Ireland and the general direction the country is taking. They are also the least likely to feel they will benefit from changes announced in Budget 2025.

We see renewed evidence that the “squeezed middle” continues to feel the most financial pressure; this is likely due to the challenges they typically face at this stage of life (45-54) such as trying to balance the cost of education, housing and caring for family members alongside the day-to-day cost of living.

Those aged 55+ are the most positive about growing up and growing old in Ireland. While one in two of those aged 18-24 feel Ireland is a good place to grow old in, almost three in four (73%) of those aged 55+ agree. Similarly, six in ten 18-24 year olds feel Ireland is a good place to grow up in, rising to over eight in ten among the 55+ age group.

Read the full report here:

Take a Minute, Before you Bin It!

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 11:24:01 GMT

A key step along the way to a circular economy is to segregate our waste properly, so that it can be reused, recycled or disposed of correctly.

The recently launched ' Take a minute, before you bin it! ' campaign highlights how small changes in behaviour can make a big difference to our recycling rate and bring us closer to a circular economy.

Statistics from the Environmental Protection Agency show that two-thirds of what ends up in our general waste bins in Ireland could have been recycled or composted, but instead ends up incinerated or in landfill. Food waste, followed by soft plastics are the most frequently misplaced items.

It was a pleasure to provide behavioural science input to the development of this campaign for My Waste Ireland led by Dr. Joanne Rourke and her team, with creative designed by DesignWorks Ltd.

' Take a minute, before you bin it! ' is a simple but important step that can make a real difference.

See more at www.mywaste.ie :

Reflecting Ireland - Managing our Money in a Digital World

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 10:25:29 GMT

The latest issue of PTSB Reflecting Ireland, just published, focuses on how we manage our money in a digital world.

We have more options now than ever before when it comes to managing our money. It is evident that people see a clear role both for cash and digital banking services. Cash is the preferred option for informal occasions like tipping, giving children pocket money, or spending on a night out. Cash gives people a sense of control. It feels more ‘real’ than digital money, so we feel it more when we part with it. Where cash gives a sense of control, digital banking services give confidence. Three quarters (76%) say they feel more confident about managing their money as a result of using them. This is even higher for those under 35 at 83%.

The report also explores the role of AI in banking, experience of fraud, and sentiment on economy and life in Ireland. Key findings include:

Almost three-quarters (72%) of people are concerned that the increased use of AI could lead to more sophisticated financial fraud

When seeking guidance about financial products such as a mortgage, human support is up to six times more preferable than tech-led support

The cost of living is still the most important issue for people (34%), followed by immigration (14%) and the price of housing (13%)

Read the full report here :

Reflecting Ireland - Lives of Women in Ireland Today

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 12:29:15 GMT

The latest issue of PTSB Reflecting Ireland explores the lives of women in Ireland today. As we approach a historic referendum on March 8th, International Women's Day, we look at four aspects of women's lives in Ireland: financial wellbeing, home life, work life and lifestyle & sport.

Themes that emerge include the need for women to take more control over their long-term financial planning, evidence that behavioural patterns in the home are changing, a strong desire for gender equality in work and sport, and the importance of female role models in working and sporting life.

Strong differences emerge in women’s and men’s approaches to work/life balance and to managing their finances.

Both women and men struggle with work-life balance, but women struggle more.

While almost half of men have a clear long-term financial plan, just over a third of women do. There is evidence of an Intention-Action gap among women; it’s not that women don’t think it’s important, it’s that it takes them longer than men to get around to it.

The difference between how men and women plan for their financial future is most evident among the under 35s. Almost twice as many men in this age group have already set up a pension compared to women (42% vs. 23%), while more women (53%) intend to do so but haven’t got around to it yet, compared to 36% of men. Women have lower confidence in their financial decision-making ability than men, and are also less comfortable talking to others about money issues.

The research also reveals that the workplace is not seen as a level playing field. Two thirds of women (67%) feel they have to work harder than men to get the same level of career progression, and 41% of men agree.

Read the full report here:

Reflecting Ireland - 2024 Outlook

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 15:01:33 GMT

The latest issue of PTSB Reflecting Ireland explores how people are feeling about 2024.

It reveals that despite current challenges, almost three quarters of us feel Ireland is a good place to grow up and over half of us feel it is a good place to grow old. Our natural environment is what we appreciate most about living here.

Our concerns, hopes and priorities are broadly similar to this time last year. Concerns about our healthcare system are top of mind, and most of us have an ambition to become fitter and healthier this year.

The most popular New Year Resolution for 2024 is to sort out our finances. We all want to feel in control of our finances, and as the high cost of living continues to bite, it has become a priority for most of us. We provide tips on how to get on top of your finances on www.ptsb.ie/blog

Read the full report here:

Recycle your Electric Waste, for Free!

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 14:11:01 GMT

BehaviourWise is delighted to have supported the

recently launched excellent campaign by DesignWorks Ireland to encourage people to recycle their WEEE (Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment).

The campaign is supported by Ireland's two WEEE compliance schemes, WEEE Ireland and ERP Ireland, the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, WEEE has become one of the fastest growing waste streams worldwide due to the unprecedented level of electronics being produced. It is also one of the most hazardous if not managed properly.

From a behavioural point of view, we know that most of us have some old or broken electrical or electronic equipment lying around that we either forget about or don’t know what to do with. This campaign is all about reminding people that anything with a plug, battery or cable can be recycled, that it costs nothing and that it’s easy to do! It directs people to www.MyWaste.ie to find their nearest WEEE drop-off point.

Visit MyWaste.ie here

Reflecting Ireland - Sustainability

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 22:03:33 GMT

The latest edition of the PTSB Relfecting Ireland series shows we are concerned about climate change, but fear of increased costs gets in the way of us taking action to help address it. There has however been an increase in sustainable behaviours over the last two years ...

The research, conducted in August, shows climate change is a key concern for 7 out of 10 people in Ireland, and 1 in 4 believe we are on the brink of irreversible climate damage. However when it comes to taking action people are cautious. The cost of living still dominates the national psyche. The good news is that sustainable behaviour often saves money, and the evidence shows that more of us are behaving more sustainably compared to two years ago, even if the motivation behind it is to save money rather than save the planet. Small changes in behaviour can benefit us financially as well as being good for the environment.

Read the full report here:

Reflecting Ireland - Sustainability

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 17:16:34 GMT

The latest edition of the PTSB Relfecting Ireland series shows an increase in sustainable behaviours over the last two years ...

The research, conducted in August shows climate change is a key concern for 7 out of 10 people in Ireland, and 1 in 4 believe we are on the brink of irreversible climate damage. However when it comes to taking action people are cautious. The cost of living still dominates the national psyche. The good news is that sustainable behaviour often saves money, and the evidence shows that more of us are behaving more sustainably compared to two years ago, even if the motivation behind it is to save money rather than save the planet. Small changes in behaviour can benefit us financially as well as being good for the environment.

Secrets of a Delivery Driver

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 12:19:03 GMT

I was delighted to take part in the RTÉ documentary Secrets of a Delivery Driver , which aired last night on RTÉ 1. It provides a fascinating insight into the lives of people behind the deliveries we often take for granted in our day-to-day lives. Three key themes emerge ...

watch on rte player here →

The ever more ingenious ways we find to make our lives more convenient, from Deliveroo to Amazon, and more recently drone delivery as showcased by the innovative Manna drone delivery based in Dublin ( https://www.manna.aero/ )

The dedication of people behind initiatives like The Lunchbag ( https://www.thelunchbag.ie/ ) and Kayla’s Food Kitchen ( https://www.kaylaskitchen.ie/ ) to making healthy, nutritious food accessible to more people

The meaningful difference volunteers make to other people’s lives exemplified by Bloodbikes which relies entirely on donations ( https://bloodbikes.ie/ ) and Meals on Wheels ( https://mealsonwheelsnetwork.ie/ ). Seeing what people like Maureen and Carmel do for Meals on Wheels, or John does for Bloodbikes, and the impact it has on those they help, is really humbling.

If you would like to find out more about opportunities to volunteer, visit www.volunteer.ie

Thank you to the fantastic team behind the production that brought these stories to life!

Behavioural Insights Training

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 15:57:00 GMT

BehaviourWise was delighted to host a Behavioural Insights Online Training Workshop on 23 ^rd September in partnership with Westminster Insight. The Workshop is CPD accredited, giving participants the opportunity to earn credits for ongoing learning. Participants rated it 5 out of 5 and shared some very positive feedback ...

“A really useful session. I'm incorporating the learning into my work already, and inspiring the team to do the same”

“Really fascinating subject and one I'm keen to learn more about - this will be really useful in my role”

“Excellent workshop, lots of food for thought and I'll be taking a lot of this back to the day job”

“There were plenty of opportunities to get involved”

If you would like to learn more about behavioural insight training opportunities, please get in touch!

The lure of 'free cash'

RG373090 — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 15:59:28 GMT

It was great to talk to Henry McKean of Newstalk for The Hard Shoulder yesterday about how people reacted to the Bank of Ireland ATM glitch on Tuesday evening ...

LISTEN HERE →

Last Tuesday evening there was a glitch with Bank of Ireland ATM machines that allowed people to withdraw cash and transfer funds even when there were insufficient funds, or even no funds, in their accounts. Despite social media posts by the bank warning people that the money would have to be repaid, and the fact we all know there is no such thing as free cash, many flocked to ATMs and queued to withdraw cash while they could. Why is this? It turns out a strong moral compass is not always the best predictor of how we will behave in the moment. When excitement takes over, when we see others getting in on the act and when there is the lure of something for free, it's all too hard to resist. Thoughts of future consequences fade to the back of our minds ...

Reflecting Ireland - News Media and Social Media Habits

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 17:23:11 GMT

The latest issue of Permanent TSB’s Reflecting Ireland series, published this week, explores our behaviour when it comes to news media, the impact of news on our mood, our social media habits and the impact of social media on our wellbeing. Produced by Permanent TSB in partnership with Core Research and BehaviourWise, the findings reveal it is very important to us to stay well-informed and up to date, and that we trust traditional media channels (TV, radio, newspapers) most to provide news that is accurate, fair and balanced. Watching, listening to or reading the news can have a negative impact on our emotions, particularly for women, and this can lead to a disengagement from news media. The research also shows that for younger people, social media channels are a main source of news. In a digital world, the lines around what constitutes a news source are blurring. While younger people are more likely to keep informed through social media, they are also more likely to fact-check news items they come across. Time spent on social media is found to impact on our emotional state, with 1 in 3 users reporting a negative impact on their mental wellbeing, rising to 1 in 2 among young people.

Download the full #ReflectingIreland report here

Reflecting Ireland - Wellbeing Tips

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 17:14:10 GMT

The latest issue of Permanent TSB’s Reflecting Ireland series shows that people in Ireland are increasingly choosing to make wellbeing a priority. Six out of ten put quality of life, including mental wellbeing and physical health, first.

Looking after our psychological wellbeing

https://www.permanenttsb.ie/blog/9-tips-to-improve-wellbeing-based-on-behavioural-science/

(1) Ryan, R.M. and Deci, E.L., 2000. Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American psychologist, 55(1), p.68.

Reflecting Ireland - Changing Lives

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 21:15:30 GMT

I enjoyed being interviewed by Cormac O hEadhra on RTE radio 1 Drivetime about the latest edition of Permanent TSB's Reflecting Ireland series. This issue, entitled Changing Lives, focuses on how our lives have changed since the pandemic. It reveals how our priorities have shifted, and the changes we have made to how we live, work and socialise.

LISTEN HERE →

One of the areas we explore in this latest issue of Reflecting Ireland is our views on housing, consistently reported as a top concern for people throughout the Reflecting Ireland series.

Home ownership is a key aspiration for most people in Ireland, even more so in recent years. Over half the adult population own their own home, just under half do not. The vast majority (8 out of 10) of those that do not own their own home say it is personally important to them to do so at some point in the future. However two thirds (66%) feel the prospect has become less achievable in recent years. We discuss this as well as other findings in this interview.

REGIONAL DIFFERENCES

It was great to have the opportunity to discuss the regional differences we uncovered in this issue of Reflecting Ireland in relation to how we work. Flexible working options have become more and more attractive to workers in recent years. Nationally, over half of workers say it is important to them to have the option of flexi time, 4 out of 10 say hybrid working is important and a similar number like to have the option of a career break. All of these options are more readily available to Dublin-based workers, and less available to those in other areas of the country, particularly the Northwest. Thank you to FM104, Q102, Northern Sound and Ocean FM for the opportunity to chat about these findings.

Reflecting Ireland - Changing Lives

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 20:04:14 GMT

The latest issue of Permanent TSB’s Reflecting Ireland series, published today, shines a light on our changing lives. Produced by Permanent TSB in partnership with Core Research and BehaviourWise, the findings explore how our lives have changed since the pandemic. The last few years have been turbulent both at home and globally, with the pandemic, war in Ukraine and the rising cost of living all taking their toll. We look at how our priorities and our behaviours have changed as a result. We look at our lifestyles, working lives, media habits and social lives. We ask what people find easier or harder since the pandemic and we explore people’s attitudes to housing, consistently reported throughout the Reflecting Ireland series as a key concern.

Shifting priorities

The Covid pandemic gave us the opportunity to take a step back and reflect on how we wanted to live our lives. Our research reveals that for 6 out of 10, quality of life, mental wellbeing and physical health have become more important since the pandemic. Managing work life balance has become twice as important as managing career. For over half of us, managing money has become more important. So too has spending time with friends or family. Half of us value being mindful and getting ‘me’ time more than we did before.

Some things are easier, some are harder

People now find it easier to take exercise, cook from scratch and manage work life balance. However almost two thirds say they find it more difficult to control their utility bills or save money, and half are struggling to manage their finances.

Changed behaviours

There was much discussion during the pandemic about the lifestyle changes that would transpire as a result, and which changes would become permanent. Flexible working in various forms has become more normalised. Workers seek it and employers are expected to offer it. We find that a third of workers now avail of hybrid or remote working. Half of us socialise less than we did before the pandemic, particularly those between 25 and 54. Over half of us regularly socialise at home.

Psychological wellbeing

There are three basic psychological needs that are fundamental to our wellbeing: a sense of control over our lives, connection with others and feeling capable in what we do (1). We call them the 3 ‘C’s. Since the pandemic, we have tried to exert greater control over our lives. The opportunity to choose how we work, whether that’s remotely, hybrid or at the workplace, increases our sense of control. So too does technology which enables us to work, communicate or entertain ourselves wherever and whenever we want to. Connection with others, particularly in person, is also vital to our wellbeing. We learned to live remotely during the pandemic and since then many of us find ourselves socialising less. Habits formed during the pandemic may play some role in this. Habit is the reason given by almost half of those that are socialising less, followed by lifestyle changes and the fact that it is simply too much hassle. Hopefully as we head towards summer, we will see this pattern change.

Read the full report here:

https://www.permanenttsb.ie/globalassets/blogs/reflecting-ireland-report-changing-lives.pdf

(1) Ryan, R.M. and Deci, E.L., 2000. Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American psychologist, 55(1), p.68.

Reflecting Ireland - Looking Forward to 2023

Mon, 16 Jan 2023 12:06:39 GMT

Traditionally as a new year begins we reflect on the year that has been and make plans for the year to come. The research for our latest issue of Permanent TSB’s Reflecting Ireland series was conducted as 2022 drew to a close. We looked at how people view their lives, what concerns them, and what hopes they have for the future.

Happily, most believe that Ireland is a good place to grow up in (74%) and to grow old in (61%). People appreciate the positives about living in Ireland, particularly our welcoming nature, our environment, our culture and our values. That said, people are also very aware that more needs to be done to improve our services and make them fairer for all.

As 2023 gets underway the cost of living challenge continues. In response many are taking a pragmatic approach by planning to cut their cloth and increase the amount they save. While it is good to see that over half feel confident about managing their day-to-day finances, it is sobering that 1 in 5 do not. There are clear indications that many will struggle financially in 2023, with a third saying they don’t expect to have money left over at the end of the month or wouldn’t be able to handle a major unexpected expense.

When we conducted our research in December, 8 out of 10 people already had a New Year resolution in mind. Getting more exercise, healthier eating, taking care of our mental health and sorting out our finances are the most popular New Year resolutions for 2023. Thirty five percent plan to lose weight, get fit or improve their diet, 10% plan to sort out their finances and cut back on spending, 9% plan to take better care of their mental health and 8% plan to spend more time with family and friends. It’s good to see that people are focused on taking care of their health and wellbeing in the widest sense, building their resilience for any challenges ahead. The key of course is to try and make our good intentions stick, and one way to do this is to frame them in a positive way, focusing on what we want to do or achieve, rather than what we want to give up or avoid.

Click here to read the full report, and our tips on making New Year resolutions stick:

https://www.permanenttsb.ie/blog/reflecting-ireland--an-insight-into-consumer-behavioural-change-in-ireland--looking-forward-to-2023/

Friday the 13th

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 17:59:40 GMT

I enjoyed being interviewed by Henry NcKean of Newstalk for the Moncrieff Show today about Friday the 13 ^th and why we are so attached to superstitions ...

LISTEN HERE →

Every culture has it’s superstitions. In this part of the world we associate Friday the 13 ^th with bad luck, whereas in Spain it’s Tuesday the 13 ^th and in Italy its Friday the 17 ^th . There’s no scientific evidence for Friday the 13 ^th being any different to any other day, and on some level we all know this, so why do we hold onto these superstitions? So much of life is random, uncertain, unpredictable. Our minds like to look for patterns to better understand what’s happening and prepare us for what might happen. There’s something comforting in believing we understand why things happen and feeling we have some control. In an uncertain world it’s reassuring, even if we know it doesn’t make sense!

Have a listen to hear all about Henry’s very scientific ladder experiment in Drogheda, and why you shouldn’t step over a pipe if you find yourself in Latvia!

Reflecting Ireland - Financial Fraud

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 11:03:33 GMT

Delighted to be interviewed this morning on Newstalk’s Breakfast Business by Joe Lynam about findings from the latest Permanent TSB Reflecting Ireland research series, published today.

LISTEN HERE →

This quarter we focus on financial fraud, people’s experience of it and their attitudes and behaviours towards it. Three quarters (75%) of us have experienced attempted financial fraud and 27% have been victims, 16% this year alone. There has been a sharp increase in incidents lately, and as Black Friday and the busy Christmas shopping period approach, it’s important to stay vigilant.

Anyone can fall victim to financial fraud. Ironically what makes us vulnerable is thinking it can’t happen to us! We are particularly susceptible when we are busy, stressed, tired or distracted. Those most likely to fall victim are young people (under 45s), men and those living in Dublin. Contrary to popular belief, older people are less susceptible than younger people. Those aged 25-34 represent 18% of the adult population but 28% of fraud victims, while those aged 65+ represent a similar proportion of the population but just 11% of fraud victims. Over a third of Dubliners have been victims of financial fraud compared to just over 1 in 5 across the rest of the country.

The most common attempted frauds involve contact by phone (known as vishing), text (smishing) or email (phishing), experienced by 6 out of 10 of us. Skimmed card data is the most likely to deliver results for fraudsters, with 4 out of 10 people targeted losing money. Romance fraud, although rare compared to other types, is particularly vindictive as people are manipulated emotionally over time and eventually duped out of large sums. Romance fraud is among the most lucrative types from a fraudsters point of view.

To stay safe, it’s important to keep an eye on your bank balance and be mindful when shopping online – check for independent reviews of websites, check website addresses and check for the secure payment padlock symbol. If you think you’ve been targeted, it’s very important to report it. With 7 out of 10 saying they would report it to their financial institution and 5 out of 10 saying they would notify the Gardaí, it’s quite likely that many cases go unreported.

Download the full report here:

https://www.permanenttsb.ie/blog/reflecting-ireland--an-insight-into-consumer-behavioural-change-in-ireland--fraud/

Culinary Inspiration

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 15:31:24 GMT

Exploring culinary energies from around the world to inspire and innovate

It was a real pleasure to be involved in Bord Bia’s 2022 Culinary Energies report, recently launched, working with HK&A and Bord Bia’s Strategic Insight & Planning team. This report serves to provide inspiration for the Irish food and drink industry based on energies that are shaping the global culinary world. Key themes include an unapologetic approach to cuisine, full utilisation of ingredients to protect and nurture our planet’s future, the rise of hyper-regional dishes, mindful choices made by chefs and encouraged among their guests, the importance of community, respect for tradition and innovation fuelled by technology. Leading chefs and influencers in the culinary world provide the inspiration that will shape how we source, produce, prepare and consume food and drink for years to come!

Click here to see the report:

Rising Energy Costs in Retail

Wed, 14 Sep 2022 22:16:15 GMT

It was great to join Sharon Yourell Lawlor of Think Plan Do Consulting, Pat Kane of Reuzi and Niamh Higgins of Tap Creative at the Retail Excellence Retail & Digital Retreat last Wednesday for a panel discussion on sustainability in retail. It is very clear that the unrelenting rise in energy costs is putting Irish retail businesses under serious pressure. Although we can’t control the price of energy, we can alleviate some of the pressure by tapping into available supports, taking steps to maximise energy efficiency and opting for renewable energy sources where possible. Our Sustainable Irish Retail Action (SIRA) e-guide, a joint initiative between BehaviourWise and TPD Consulting, is a free resource that retailers can download from the Retail Excellence website. It provides practical advice on how to be more energy efficient in retail and it provides direct links to available supports from SEAI, Local Enterprise Offices and others. If you’re in retail and you’re concerned about energy costs, check out our SIRA e-guide at the link below:

Access the SIRA e-guide here

Ireland's views on Neutrality and NATO

Sat, 27 Aug 2022 22:25:30 GMT

BehaviourWise research finds the country divided on the question of whether to join NATO or maintain our longstanding policy of military neutrality.

In July this year, we set out to discover how Irish people feel about key aspects of our defence policy – our neutrality, our investment in defence and our membership of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP). We wanted to understand how Irish people feel about the possibility of joining NATO or an EU army (although not in existence today, it is indicative of how people would feel about closer EU military cooperation).

From a behavioural science perspective, we know that at a sub-conscious level our thinking and behaviour are influenced by context and by prevailing narratives. Narratives influence our perception of the world around us, including how we perceive risk and how we decide to protect ourselves against it. We wanted to explore whether narratives could influence people’s thinking and voting intention if we were to have a referendum on NATO membership. To test this theory, we developed two short narratives, one on military conflict and one on food insecurity, both often mentioned in the context of NATO. Using a test vs. control approach, we tested the impact of these narratives on responses.

In short, we found that exposure to a narrative about military conflict makes people more likely to support Ireland joining NATO or an EU army, and to support an increase in military defence spend. The narrative about food insecurity did not have a significant impact on responses to these questions.

The study also revealed a low level of understanding of the core purpose of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) of which Ireland is a member.

“The results from this study indicate that the NATO question is very much dividing the nation. The war in Ukraine has made the threat of conflict salient for Irish people. Interestingly a European alternative to NATO was slightly more favoured, yet this study reveals low understanding our current EU commitments. It’s important that Ireland now has an open, factual and fair conversation surrounding Ireland’s role in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.” Caolán Rooney, BehaviourWise

“Our thoughts and behaviours are affected by context, and by prevailing narratives. The war in Ukraine has changed the context, and as a result the country is now split on the question of whether to remain neutral or join NATO. How the narrative around neutrality and NATO membership is framed carries weight: it could make all the difference to a referendum result. It is important that people are informed, different perspectives are considered, and people are given the time to reflect before a decision on the direction of future policy is taken.” Claire Cogan, BehaviourWise

Read the report here:

Our views on Community

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 17:12:03 GMT

It was great to chat to Sarah McInerney on RTE Radio 1 Drivetime yesterday about the findings from the latest issue of Reflecting Ireland, the quarterly research series by Permanent TSB, Kantar and BehaviourWise.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW →

We chatted about Ireland's strong sense of community, what we feel makes for a good community and what gets in the way of it, urban / rural differences in how we evaluate the availability of key services, pessimism about the economy and the cost of living, and the irrepressible optimism of the young!

Building a Strong Community

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 08:24:18 GMT

As we launch our latest issue of Reflecting Ireland focusing on community, BehaviourWise teamed up with Permanent TSB to suggest 10 ways we can all get more involved in our local communities. A strong community spirit is good for our health and wellbeing, our standard of living and our ability to cope when times get tough. These suggestions are based on three areas we know contribute to a strong community spirit:

VOLUNTEERING

ACTIVE PARTICIATION

SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESS

The principle of reciprocity is key; the more we participate, the stronger our community becomes and the more we all reap the rewards. The best way to get back is to give back! View our 10 suggestions here:

https://www.permanenttsb.ie/blog/tips-on-becoming-more-involved-in-your-community/

Reflecting Ireland - Our Sense of Community

Thu, 25 Aug 2022 07:25:36 GMT

The latest edition of Reflecting Ireland is published today, the quarterly research series by Permanent TSB, Kantar and BehaviourWise. In this edition we focus on community – what it means to people, how strong our sense of community is, what sustains it and what gets in its way. Being part of a strong, supportive community has an impact on how we feel and how we behave. As the rising cost of living continues to bite and we face into a challenging winter, strong community bonds can provide much needed support and boost our resilience.

LISTEN TO A SUMMARY FOR NEWSTALK HERE →

What emerges clearly is how strong our sense of community is in Ireland. Two thirds of us feel we know our neighbours well, and that there is a strong community spirit where we live. A third of us feel that the pandemic has if anything strengthened those community bonds. That sense of community is felt most strongly by those who actively participate or volunteer in their local community.

People are pretty clear about what makes a good community: 8 out of 10 believe it’s about people helping each other out or looking out for vulnerable neighbours, 7 out of 10 feel it’s about having a sense of physical security. People are also clear about what gets in the way. Three quarters of us feel it’s people being too busy, two thirds feel it’s because some people just like to keep to themselves.

We also find that while community is important to people, rising house prices are making it more difficult for people to afford to live where they would like to. A third (35%) say they can’t afford to live in the area they’re from. Almost half (47%) say they can’t afford to live in their preferred community, and that rises to 60% among the under 35s. The evidence shows that the housing market is limiting people’s options, when it comes to choosing the community that they would like to live in.

The rising cost of living continues to weigh heavily on peoples’ minds. 60% feel they’re financially worse off than this time last year, which is double the level (30%) at the start of the year. Half of us expect to be even worse off next year - again that’s twice as many as in January. Negative sentiment has now reached levels that have not been seen since the financial crisis over a decade ago. And it’s impacting more of us. For the first time, we’re seeing that even those on higher incomes are now beginning to fear the effects of the rising cost of living.

Download the full report here:

https://www.permanenttsb.ie/blog/reflecting-ireland--an-insight-into-consumer-behavioural-change-in-ireland--community/

Research Report on Credit Union Directors

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 20:10:15 GMT

It was a pleasure to attend the launch of the Report On Research into Credit Union Directors published by the Credit Union Advisory Committee (CUAC) in Cork City on Wednesday July 20th, and to have contributed research to the recent Addendum to the Report. The report was launched by Seán Fleming T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Finance for Insurance, Credit Unions and International Financial Services. Minister Fleming highlighted that findings of the research have already influenced policy and proposed legislative change for credit unions. Speakers at the event included Professor Ursula Kilkelly Head of the College of Business and Law at UCC, Lorraine Corcoran Chairperson of CUAC, and Dr. Olive McCarthy Senior Lecturer at UCC and member of CUAC. The event took place in the beautiful former Cork Savings Bank Building, now the UCC Centre for Executive Education. The report provides an insight into the perspective of Credit Union Directors and the challenges and opportunities they face .

“I welcome this Report as it gives credit union Directors the opportunity to directly voice their opinions. It serves as a reminder that volunteers are at the heart of the credit union movement. The recommendations from this Report have helped in my work in preparing legislation to help the credit union movement. I expect this legislation will begin the legislative process after the summer break. I would like to thank the Credit Union Advisory Committee, and everyone involved for their contributions to this significant research.”

Seán Fleming T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Finance for Insurance, Credit Unions and International Financial Services.

Access the report and addendum here

Launch of Sustainable Irish Retail Action (SIRA) e-guide

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 23:12:36 GMT

We were delighted with the high turnout on Wednesday evening at the launch event for our SIRA (Sustainable Irish Retail Action) e-guide at Fallon & Byrne in Dublin. Thanks to our fantastic compere Sonya Lennon, our keynote speaker Mark Mellet and our panel of guest speakers Fiona Matthews of Applegreen, Patricia Macieira Kane of Reuzi, Tara Clifford of SuperValu and Alan Makim of AIB. A big thank you to our sponsors Vodafone, AIB, SuperValu and Tap Creative, and to our partners Retail Excellence and Champion Green.

The launch follows months of work by BehaviourWise and Sharon Yourell Lawlor of Think Plan Do Consulting. Our research revealed that retailers in Ireland are highly motivated to make their businesses as sustainable as possible, but as is often the case, there are obstacles to putting that good intention into practice (in behavioural science terms, there's an intention-action gap). Retailers told us they would find it really helpful to have on online ‘one-stop-shop’ where they could find practical information about how to be more sustainable and any supports available to them. In response we created our e-guide, which is packed full of advice, hints and tips, case studies and ideas, and provides links to supports and further information. It is designed to support retailers when they need to make business decisions by making the sustainable choice the easy one. Download the e-guide from the Retail Excellence website at the link below.

Download the SIRA e-guide to sustainability in retail here

Rising Cost of Living Concerns

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 22:39:20 GMT

There has been a significant increase in levels of concern about the rising cost of living over the past 3 months.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW →

I was delighted to be interviewed by Johnny Holmes on Near FM's Northside Today on Thursday about the significant increase in concern about the rising cost of living. The latest issue of our Reflecting Ireland research series, conducted with Permanent TSB and Kantar, reveals the percentage of people that believe they will be worse off in a year's time has virtually doubled in 3 months, from 22% in January to 43% in April. Eighty five percent of us expect the cost of living to get much worse over the coming year.

We discussed how inflation in Ireland compares to elsewhere, and how people can help protect themselves from it's damaging effects.

The Rising Cost of Living

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 22:18:42 GMT

6 out of 10 of us plan to cut back on food spend in response to cost of living concerns

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW →

I was delighted to be interviewed by Diarmuid Pepper on Northern Sound's The Bottom Line last Wednesday about how we are reacting to the rising cost of living. The latest issue of our Reflecting Ireland research reveals 62% of people feel they will have to cut back on food spending over the coming year in response to cost of living concerns, and 53% worry they will be unable to pay higher energy bills. A ttitudes to our personal financial circumstances and t o the economy are deteriorating. The rising cost of living is now the dominant issue for 81% of consumers - up from 62% just three months ago.

Reflecting Ireland - Rising Cost of Living

Fri, 27 May 2022 18:32:18 GMT

Published today, the latest edition of Reflecting Ireland, the quarterly research series by Permanent TSB, Kantar and BehaviourWise, reveals 81% of us feel rising cost of living is the top concern facing the country.

This is having a deeply negative impact on our overall mood and our assessment of our personal finances – and of Ireland’s direction of travel more generally. Not since the period 2009 – 2012 have we seen such high levels of pessimism about the future. Now, rising food and energy prices coupled with the devastating war in Ukraine are signalling that a shortterm bump in the road due to Covid may be with us for longer than anticipated. What are people doing to reduce the impact? In this report, we’ve also teamed up with Claire Cogan of BehaviourWise to better understand the behaviour we are seeing. We find that only 3 in 10 people expect to receive a pay rise to partially or fully compensate for the increased burden. Instead, people are budgeting more and changing their behaviour and spending patterns to better navigate this inflationary period.

Download the full #ReflectingIreland report here

Morning Ireland - How the Rising Cost of Living is Affecting Us

Fri, 27 May 2022 17:20:54 GMT

I was delighted to be interviewed on Morning Ireland Business News this morning by Petula Martyn about key insights emerging from the latest edition of Reflecting Ireland, a quarterly research report by Permanent TSB, Kantar and BehaviourWise.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW →

Highlights:

62% of people feel they will have to cut back on food spending over the coming year in response to sharp price rises
53% of people worry they will be unable to pay higher energy bills
The rising cost of living is now the dominant issue among 81% of consumers - up from 62% just three months ago
Consumer pessimism is at its highest level for nine years. 53% of respondents feel they are less well off than they were a year ago, a huge increase from 32% in January. 43% feel they will be less well off in a year's time, up from 22% when asked three months ago

Claire Cogan, behavioural scientist and founder of BehaviourWise, said "the rising cost of living is having a deep impact on how people are feeling and behaving. "Optimism is fading and anxiety is on the rise, which is a concern. There is evidence that people are adopting their behaviour to meet the challenges, but there is also evidence that many feel in a financially precarious position. It will be increasingly important over the coming months to build our financial resilience, as upward pressure on the cost of living shows no sign of abating".

Read the full article on the RTE news website here:

https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2022/0526/1301396-62-cutting-food-spending-as-prices-rise-ptsb/

Sustainable Irish Retail Action (SIRA) Launch

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 16:24:01 GMT

BehaviourWise is delighted to announce the launch of SIRA, which stands for Sustainable Irish Retail Action, an initiative designed to help Irish retailers become more sustainable. Sharon Yourell Lawlor and I have been working on this for several months in partnership with Retail Excellence, and with the support of Vodafone, Champion Green and Tap Creative. Our first step was to listen. We conducted a survey among Irish retailers to get their views on sustainable business practices and combined this with interviews with retailers and retail industry specialists. This has given us great insight into the ambition of Irish retailers to become more sustainable and the challenges they encounter along the way. We will follow this with among other things, a practical ‘one-stop-shop’ guide to support and resources available to retailers. Our ambition is to make it easier for retailers to embed sustainable behaviour in their businesses. We look forward to lots of activity in this space over the coming months.

The Great Reemergence

Sun, 27 Feb 2022 17:21:25 GMT

Delighted to have been interviewed by Patrice Harrington for Sunday Independent Life magazine on our re-emergence following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions. The pandemic has prompted us to reassess our lives, careers, health and relationships. It has given us a window of opportunity to make positive changes.

Read the full article here

We're all emerging from the enforced restrictions of the last two years at different speeds and with different feelings. Some of us are full of energy and optimism for the road ahead, others are feeling anxious. Given what we've been through, feelings of anxiety are understandable. Much depends on our personal circumstances; some of us are immunocompromised, some are vulnerable and some are caring for people that are vulnerable. Some of us have suffered loss and are still grieving. We need to be patient with each other, we need to help each other along.

The article explores how to manage anxiety in social situations from day-to-day interactions to dating, how to look after our relationships, our careers and our health.

Bridging the Gender Equality Gap

Sun, 27 Feb 2022 14:29:02 GMT

As International Women's Day on March 8th approaches, BehaviourWise teamed up with Permanent TSB to provide 10 tips to help bridge the gender equality gap, based on behavioural science. We provide examples of what can be done to reduce gender inequality in our working lives and in our home lives.

View our 10 tips here:

https://www.permanenttsb.ie/blog/tips-on-tackling-gender-inequality---based-on-behavioural-science/

Reflecting Ireland - Gender Equality

Sun, 27 Feb 2022 14:11:41 GMT

As we approach International Women's Day on March 8th the third issue of Reflecting Ireland, the quarterly research series by Permanent TSB, Kantar and BehaviourWise, focuses on how we feel about gender equality. We show where men and women are aligned on their views, and where they differ. Our research highlights that although we've made great progress in recent decades, we know there's a lot more to do. We cannot afford to be complacent.

Download the full #ReflectingIreland report here

How to Live a Climate-Friendly Lifestyle

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 18:47:37 GMT

BehaviourWise has teamed up with Permanent TSB to provide a short guide to living a climate-friendly lifestyle. We share examples of how to create your own climate friendly footprint at home, when shopping, while travelling. We know that habits are hard to break so we offer tips from behavioural science to make it easier.

The rising cost of living is the top area of concern for Irish people at the moment, and the good news is that most climate-friendly behaviours can alleviate the pressure because they save us money. Minimising food waste, using public transport, cycling or walking instead of driving, turning down the dial on the thermostat or washing machine, turning off devices when we’re not using them: these are just some of the ways we can save money and help the climate at the same time.

There are lots of little things we can do in our day-to-day lives that will make a real difference. Living a climate friendly lifestyle is rewarding in lots of ways. We save money, waste less, are healthier, and benefit from the ‘feel good factor’ of knowing that we are doing the right thing for the future of our planet. What’s not to like?

View our guide here: https://www.permanenttsb.ie/blog/how-to-live-a-climate-friendly-lifestyle/

Reflecting Ireland - Attitudes and Behaviours Towards Climate Change

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 17:11:01 GMT

I was delighted to be interviewed yesterday on RTE’s Morning Ireland, on the launch of the second issue of Permanent TSB’s Reflecting Ireland series which focuses on attitudes and behaviours related to climate change. Reflecting Ireland is a collaboration between Permanent TSB, Kantar and BehaviourWise which sheds light on areas of behavioural change in Ireland.

Despite high awareness and concern about climate change, the research reveals that when seen in the context of our day-to-day lives it is competing with many other issues for our attention and not always winning. In fact it ranks 7 ^th in areas Irish people feel need to be addressed right now, after the cost of living, housing and health.

Most people like to be seen as ‘green’. Six out of 10 feel it’s important to be seen as environmentally friendly, and a similar proportion feel their household is already doing all it can to reduce carbon footprint. For 1 in 10, being seen as ‘green’ really doesn’t matter. This indicates there’s a job to be done to convince the 1 in 10 to take action for climate change, and also convince the 6 in 10 that like to be seen as environmentally friendly that they need to do more.

Challenges and opportunities lie ahead. The research suggests 1 in 3 feel their personal behaviour will not make any difference, and almost as many (27%) believe there is not enough evidence to link our personal behaviour to climate change. The majority (71%) believe trying to be as environmentally friendly as possible will cost them money, whereas we know that most climate-friendly behaviours can actually save us money. Evidence from behavioural research* shows that focusing on the opportunity to save money as a primary message, supported by the benefits for the climate as a secondary one, is a much more powerful motivator than focusing on benefits for the climate alone.

There are lots of other interesting findings, including evidence of an Intention-Action gap in everyday climate-friendly behaviours, and the difference a Government subsidy can make to big investment decisions. The proportion of those prepared to consider getting their home retro-fitted is two and a half times greater when Government assistance is offered than when it would have to be self-financed.

The priority now is to convince people to take action and that their efforts will make a difference, and then help them move from intention to action. Hopefully this research will contribute to the debate about how to do that. View the full report here: https://bit.ly/3ro2kFo

* Behavioural Architects, September 2021: Tackling Climate Change from Home: How to Turn Good Intentions into Positive Actions. A research report by The Behavioural Architects Commissioned by Smart Energy GB

How to Click with Shoppers Post-Pandemic

Sat, 02 Oct 2021 10:52:31 GMT

I was delighted to join Sharon Yourell Lawlor of Think Plan Do Consulting on the Irish Times Inside Marketing podcast, to chat about how covid has changed the way we shop and how brands and retailers need to adapt.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW →

There are lots of ways in which behavioural science can help create better experiences for customers.

The peak-end rule is one example. This has to do with how the brain remembers experiences and creates memories. We tend to focus on the most or least enjoyable part of the experience (the peak) and the finish (the end). To ensure a shopping experience is memorable for all the right reasons aim to create a highlight, and make sure the experience ends on a high note. This creates a positive impression that will last in the memory. This is good for business. People often make choices based on past experiences, so good memories will encourage repeat business.

When it comes to creating a great customer experience, we can often achieve more by removing friction than by adding something new. There’s plenty of evidence that the online shopping experience can be greatly improved by reducing friction, but the same principle also applies in-store.

Covid has required us to adapt new behaviours when shopping in-store including wearing masks, keeping our distance and sanitising regularly. This has added to what we call cognitive load , the amount of 'stuff' our minds have to process at any one time. The science tells us there is a limit to how much information our short-term memories can process. Typically, we can process two to three pieces of information at once. So while it might be tempting to offer lots of choice and lots of helpful information, in reality it can increase the cognitive load for shoppers. The more mental effort shoppers have to put in, the more likely they are to disengage. The sweet spot is to provide the right amount of information to help them make a decision, but not overload them. Less is more. There are three things we can do to reduced cognitive load for shoppers: simplify information, organise options in a way that helps people to choose what's right for them (choice architecture), and remove as many distractions as possible.

For more on how behavioural science can help improve the customer experience, please get in touch at: hello@behaviourwise.ie

Launch of PTSB Reflecting Ireland

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 16:16:48 GMT

Today the first issue of a new research series, Reflecting Ireland, was launched by Permanent TSB in partnership with Kantar. I was delighted to be part of the team that worked on this project, and to chat to Gavin McLoughlin on Newstalk Breakfast about it. This first issue focuses on savings behaviour and how the pandemic has impacted savings habits and spending intentions in Ireland. There is little doubt that a prevailing sense of uncertainty is affecting our savings behaviour: more of us are saving than before, and most of us plan to continue doing so. This research outlines not only how our behaviour is changing, but what factors lie behind these changes.

Check out the full report at the following link:

Reflecting Ireland – An insight into consumer behavioural change in Ireland (permanenttsb.ie)

Top 10 Savings Tips

Mon, 30 Aug 2021 15:05:14 GMT

I was delighted to work with Permanent TSB on the development of behavioural science based "Top 10 Savings Tips". This is part of a newly launched Permanent TSB Reflecting Ireland research series, in partnership with Kantar. The Reflecting Ireland series is designed to explore consumer behaviours that impact the Irish economy, and what drives them. These Top 10 Tips are designed to help everyone from savings novices to those that have already started.

Supporting Local with Champion Green

Wed, 26 May 2021 14:48:29 GMT

I was delighted to participate in this morning’s Champion Green webinar on the topic of consumer loyalty , along with Duncan Graham of Retail Excellence Ireland, Cormac Quinn of LoyalBe and Sven Spollen-Behrens of the Small Firms Association.

As our economy opens up again, it is critical for small businesses to find ways to generate and maintain consumer loyalty. Over the coming weeks people will have more choice than they’ve had for many months now about where they shop and which businesses they support. While we know most people are genuinely motivated to support local, we also know that this doesn’t always translate into action. We need to ‘ nudge ’ people along the path to supporting local on an ongoing basis. Our research shows that tapping into local community spirit is one way to do this, as there is an underlying association in people’s minds between local community spirit and supporting local businesses. Sharing stories or images that represent positive spirit in the local community will prompt people in the right direction, as well as creating a feel-good factor. Our research revealed that when people reflect on community spirit in their local area, they feel proud, happy and inspired. They’re also significantly more likely to support local businesses.

If you’re a small business and you haven’t done so already, join the Champion Green movement at www.championgreen.ie where you will find a wealth of ideas, advice and practical support for local businesses. If you like the sound of a loyalty scheme that is simple and seamless to use whatever the size of your business, and cost-effective to implement, check out the loyalBe loyalty platform endorsed by Champion Green, at www.loyalbe.io . If you would like to learn more about ways to encourage people to support local, or learn more about behaviour generally, get in touch at: hello@behaviourwise.ie . We would be delighted to hear from you!

How Local Community Spirit can Fuel our Recovery

Tue, 11 May 2021 18:49:24 GMT

This week as we begin to emerge from the shadows of lockdown, we can finally hope for brighter days ahead. A strong sense of community spirit helped us through the darkest days of lockdown, and it can fuel our recovery too. Local community spirit will make the difference between communities that survive and thrive, and those that linger in the shadows of the pandemic.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW →

I was delighted to be interviewed on the Joe Finnegan Show on Shannonside Northern Sound radio last week about the prevalence of community spirit in Ireland, along with Fiona McCaffrey Jones, an inspirational community activist and someone who epitomises the true meaning of local community spirit.

Research conducted by BehaviourWise and Empathy Research in October shed light on people’s experiences of local community spirit across Ireland, and the effect it has on emotions and behaviour. Simply recalling an experience of local community spirit made people feel proud, happy, and inspired. It meant people were significantly more likely to say they would shop in local independent businesses, buy locally sourced food or drink, visit a local farmers market, volunteer for a local good cause, or attend a local cultural or sporting event. These behaviours will matter greatly to small local businesses and community-based organisations over the coming weeks. The more we foster local community spirit, the more we behave in ways that help all boats rise.

Research approach:

We conducted an online survey with a nationally representative sample to understand people’s experiences of local community spirit across Ireland and how these experiences affect them. We split our sample into two groups. We asked the first group if they could recall an example of positive community spirit in their local area, if so to describe it, when it had taken place and how it made them feel. We treated the second group as a control group. We then asked all participants about their behavioural intentions and compared the responses across both groups.

Effect on our emotions:

Five key themes emerged from the almost 700 stories of community spirit shared with us: social connection, caring for others, improving the local environment, local initiatives, and celebration or tribute. Experiences varied from small, individual acts of kindness to collaborative group efforts. They give an insight into the true meaning of local community spirit as it is understood and experienced by people in everyday situations. Just over half of the stories shared took place during the pandemic. Others took place long before it, showing such incidents can live long in the memory.

The effect that recalling these incidents had on people’s emotions was notable: most reported feeling proud (64%), happy (64%) or inspired (43%). Some felt surprised (11%) or amused (6%).

Effect on our behaviour:

We asked participants about behaviours that contribute to the vitality of every local community. We found that those asked to recall examples of local community spirit were significantly more likely to say they would shop in local independent businesses, buy locally sourced food or drink, visit a local farmers market, volunteer for a local good cause, or attend a local cultural or sporting event. They were also more likely to say they would join a local loyalty scheme if one were to become available in their area and would be more willing to contribute to set-up costs.

In summary:

Recalling examples of local community spirit has a positive effect on our emotions and makes us more likely to behave in ways that support our local community, something very important right now as we set out on our road to recovery.

Will the Humble Handshake Change Post-Pandemic?

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 16:50:00 GMT

I am delighted to have been interviewed on NewsTalkFM about the future of the handshake post pandemic. This is part of NewsTalk’s Reimagining Ireland series.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW →

The Reimagining Ireland series examines some of the changes we may see across a range of areas in a post pandemic Ireland. One habit that may change is the humble handshake. It's an act many hold dear but is it now a thing of the past? Or will we be back doing it in no time? Experts differ. Some say the handshake will be replaced by alternatives as we put hygiene first. Others say the handshake is simply too ingrained, and too good for us, to disappear just yet. The handshake has been part of our lives for thousands of years, we expect it will survive the COVID pandemic, and we’ll be shaking hands with each other again very soon …

Death of the Handshake?

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 20:08:56 GMT

Delighted to have been interviewed on the Joe Finnegan Show on Shannonside Northern Sound FM about the future of the handshake post-COVID.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST NOW →

Some listeners were concerned that a gesture so engrained in our way of life might disappear. It may be in quarantine at the moment, but we at BehaviourWise believe the handshake will return, and it will mean more to us when it does. We won't feel the need to shake hands as often, but we'll do so when it counts: when we want to communicate trust, respect, and empathy.

Patrick wrote a letter into the Joe Finnegan show this week about the disappearance of the handshake. "Hi Joe, throughout the last year as we head in and out of lockdown-it’s left me plenty of time to reminisce. I’ve been reflecting on my childhood a lot and one memory that is at the forefront of my mind is my Grandads handshake. His arm would be at full stretch and the grip was bonecrunching and he’d look you in the eyes, offer a warm greeting and smile. He used to say ‘you could tell a lot about a person from their handshake'. I now lament the fact that the handshake is dead and gone. Covid-19 has weaponised it. I understand the pandemic has brought with it many bigger problems and your listeners might find it trivial. But shaking hands was a way of life. It was a sign of trust, a respectful nod to the recipient and an icebreaking moment in conversations. With hand shakes unlikely to return, what will the future look like when all this is over? Will we all learn a specific head tilt ? Will we be bumping elbows? or will we do a virtual shake with the air? I don’t know the answer Joe, all I know is we’ll never see the shaking of hands again and that makes me sad."

Claire Cogan founder of BehaviourWise and former postman Danny Burke spoke to Joe Finnegan about the changing attitude towards handshakes.

BehaviourWise joins The Global Association of Applied Behavioural Scientists (GAABS)

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 14:31:18 GMT

BehaviourWise joins GAABS

BehaviourWise is delighted to be a member of this prestigious group. Membership signals a commitment to BehaviourWise clients that BehaviourWise will maintain the highest standards of technical skills, knowledge, ethical conduct, and practice in the field of behavioural science. According to Daniel Kahneman of Princeton University, Nobel Prize Laureate and GAABS Advisor, “given the increased interest in applied behavioural science, the formation of a society representing the skills, conduct and practices of professional members is a sensible move at the current time.” BehaviourWise welcomes the opportunity to build alliances with experts and practitioners in the field throughout the world through GAABS global network. For more information about GAABS, visit: https://gaabs.org/

The Missing Perspectives of Women in News

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 18:29:04 GMT

BehaviourWise works with AKAS Audience Strategy to examine gender balance in international news media. This report is the second of two reports on the missing perspectives of women in the news commissioned by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in support of UN Women’s Generation Equality Forum. The first of these, exploring the missing perspectives of women in the COVID-19 context, was published in September 2020 and has been referenced in circa 90 news articles from around 70 countries since launch. The latest report examines the level of gender balance in news reporting today as well as taking a long-term perspective on progress achieved to date and obstacles still to overcome. Countries in scope include UK, US, India, South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria. BehaviourWise brought a behavioural science perspective to this important piece of work. Despite legislation promoting gender balance being in place in most countries for decades, and despite most people agreeing that it is an important principle, there is still evidence of male bias in news media both in organisational structure and news reporting. Why is it that intention is too often not matched by behaviour? BehaviourWise conducted an extensive literature review on the topic and highlighted best practice case studies where the principles of behavioural science have been applied to achieve greater gender balance. The result is a set of guiding principles to help news media organisations better address the perspectives of women and better serve the needs of their employees and audiences. The full report is available for download from the International Women’s Media Foundation website here: https://www.iwmf.org/missing-perspectives/

The Power of Community Spirit

Mon, 30 Nov 2020 16:34:52 GMT

As part of the KEEPING PACE series, BehaviourWise reveals how COMMUNITY SPIRIT influences our behaviour. Our research shows that COMMUNITY SPIRIT is alive and well across Ireland and is a force for good in these challenging times. By conducting a behavioural science experiment using a priming technique, we were able to demonstrate where and how COMMUNITY SPIRIT influences how we behave. If you would like to know more or discuss potential applications, please get in touch at: hello@behaviourwise.ie

Keeping Pace in a Changing World

Sun, 22 Nov 2020 16:34:53 GMT

BehaviourWise partners with Empathy Research and Futavista on KEEPING PACE , an exploration of how COVID-19 is impacting Irish society. Based on 3 waves of research to date, a sample of 6,000 in total, KEEPING PACE explores how people’s values, attitudes, needs and behaviours are evolving as we navigate the pandemic. KEEPING PACE is designed to keep organisations abreast of changes and inform their decision-making as the situation evolves. If you missed our webinars and would like to know more, please get in touch at: hello@behaviourwise.ie

The Missing Perspectives of Women in Covid 19 News

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 16:35:33 GMT

BehaviourWise works with AKAS Audience Strategy on a report examining women’s representation in COVID-19 news in UK, US, India, South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria. The report makes 21 recommendations to support news providers who wish to amplify the muted voices of women in news coverage of COVID-19. The report, commissioned by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is available for download at the International Women’s Media Foundation website here: https://www.iwmf.org/women-in-covid19-news/

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Reflecting Ireland - Financial Planning for Later Life

The latest issue of PTSB Reflecting Ireland focuses on financial planning for later life.

Reflecting Ireland - Looking Forward to 2026

As 2025 draws to a close, the latest issue of PTSB Reflecting Ireland focuses on how people are feeling about 2026.

Is AI making our brains lazy?

In this thought-provoking article published yesterday on www.rte.ie , Gail Conway explores the issue of how our brains process information in the age of AI, and whether the instant access and convenience it offers is actually making our brains lazy.

Reflecting Ireland - Financial Literacy

The latest issue of PTSB Reflecting Ireland research series published yesterday reveals a gap between the percentage of people that feel they have a good or average level of financial literacy, and those that actually do.

Reflecting Ireland - Shifting Attitudes to Home Ownership

Published on Friday, the latest issue of PTSB’s Reflecting Ireland research series reveals the impact of rising house prices on attitudes to home ownership.

Reflecting Ireland - Looking Forward to 2025

The latest issue of PTSB Reflecting Ireland focuses on how we feel about living in Ireland as a new year begins. 7 in 10 people believe Ireland is a good place to grow up in, and 6 in 10 say it’s a good place to grow old in. There are however striking differences by age group.

Take a Minute, Before you Bin It!

A key step along the way to a circular economy is to segregate our waste properly, so that it can be reused, recycled or disposed of correctly.

The recently launched ' Take a minute, before you bin it! ' campaign highlights how small changes in behaviour can make a big difference to our recycling rate and bring us closer to a circular economy.

Reflecting Ireland - Managing our Money in a Digital World

The latest issue of PTSB Reflecting Ireland, just published, focuses on how we manage our money in a digital world.

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Reflecting Ireland - Lives of Women in Ireland Today

The latest issue of PTSB Reflecting Ireland explores the lives of women in Ireland today. As we approach a historic referendum on March 8th, International Women's Day, we look at four aspects of women's lives in Ireland: financial wellbeing, home life, work life and lifestyle & sport.

Themes that emerge include the need for women to take more control over their long-term financial planning, evidence that behavioural patterns in the home are changing, a strong desire for gender equality in work and sport, and the importance of female role models in working and sporting life.

Reflecting Ireland - 2024 Outlook

The latest issue of PTSB Reflecting Ireland explores how people are feeling about 2024.

It reveals that despite current challenges, almost three quarters of us feel Ireland is a good place to grow up and over half of us feel it is a good place to grow old. Our natural environment is what we appreciate most about living here.

Our concerns, hopes and priorities are broadly similar to this time last year. Concerns about our healthcare system are top of mind, and most of us have an ambition to become fitter and healthier this year.

﻿ The most popular New Year Resolution for 2024 is to sort out our finances. We all want to feel in control of our finances, and as the high cost of living continues to bite, it has become a priority for most of us. We provide tips on how to get on top of your finances on www.ptsb.ie/blog

Recycle your Electric Waste, for Free!

BehaviourWise is delighted to have supported the

recently launched excellent campaign by DesignWorks Ireland to encourage people to recycle their WEEE (Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment).

The campaign is supported by Ireland's two WEEE compliance schemes, WEEE Ireland and ERP Ireland, the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, WEEE has become one of the fastest growing waste streams worldwide due to the unprecedented level of electronics being produced. It is also one of the most hazardous if not managed properly.

Reflecting Ireland - Sustainability

The latest edition of the PTSB Relfecting Ireland series shows we are concerned about climate change, but fear of increased costs gets in the way of us taking action to help address it. There has however been an increase in sustainable behaviours over the last two years ...

Reflecting Ireland - Sustainability

The latest edition of the PTSB Relfecting Ireland series shows an increase in sustainable behaviours over the last two years ...

Secrets of a Delivery Driver

I was delighted to take part in the RTÉ documentary Secrets of a Delivery Driver , which aired last night on RTÉ 1. It provides a fascinating insight into the lives of people behind the deliveries we often take for granted in our day-to-day lives. Three key themes emerge ...

Behavioural Insights Training

The lure of 'free cash'

It was great to talk to Henry McKean of Newstalk for The Hard Shoulder yesterday about how people reacted to the Bank of Ireland ATM glitch on Tuesday evening ...

Reflecting Ireland - News Media and Social Media Habits

Reflecting Ireland - Wellbeing Tips

The latest issue of Permanent TSB’s Reflecting Ireland series shows that people in Ireland are increasingly choosing to make wellbeing a priority. Six out of ten put quality of life, including mental wellbeing and physical health, first.

Reflecting Ireland - Changing Lives

Reflecting Ireland - Changing Lives

Reflecting Ireland - Looking Forward to 2023

Friday the 13th

I enjoyed being interviewed by Henry NcKean of Newstalk for the Moncrieff Show today about Friday the 13 th and why we are so attached to superstitions ...

Reflecting Ireland - Financial Fraud

Delighted to be interviewed this morning on Newstalk’s Breakfast Business by Joe Lynam about findings from the latest Permanent TSB Reflecting Ireland research series, published today.

Culinary Inspiration

Rising Energy Costs in Retail

Ireland's views on Neutrality and NATO

BehaviourWise research finds the country divided on the question of whether to join NATO or maintain our longstanding policy of military neutrality.

Our views on Community

It was great to chat to Sarah McInerney on RTE Radio 1 Drivetime yesterday about the findings from the latest issue of Reflecting Ireland, the quarterly research series by Permanent TSB, Kantar and BehaviourWise.

Building a Strong Community

Reflecting Ireland - Our Sense of Community

Research Report on Credit Union Directors

Launch of Sustainable Irish Retail Action (SIRA) e-guide

Rising Cost of Living Concerns

There has been a significant increase in levels of concern about the rising cost of living over the past 3 months.

The Rising Cost of Living

6 out of 10 of us plan to cut back on food spend in response to cost of living concerns

Reflecting Ireland - Rising Cost of Living

Published today, the latest edition of Reflecting Ireland, the quarterly research series by Permanent TSB, Kantar and BehaviourWise, reveals 81% of us feel rising cost of living is the top concern facing the country.

Morning Ireland - How the Rising Cost of Living is Affecting Us

I was delighted to be interviewed on Morning Ireland Business News this morning by Petula Martyn about key insights emerging from the latest edition of Reflecting Ireland, a quarterly research report by Permanent TSB, Kantar and BehaviourWise.

Sustainable Irish Retail Action (SIRA) Launch

The Great Reemergence

Bridging the Gender Equality Gap

Reflecting Ireland - Gender Equality

How to Live a Climate-Friendly Lifestyle

Reflecting Ireland - Attitudes and Behaviours Towards Climate Change

How to Click with Shoppers Post-Pandemic

I was delighted to join Sharon Yourell Lawlor of Think Plan Do Consulting on the Irish Times Inside Marketing podcast, to chat about how covid has changed the way we shop and how brands and retailers need to adapt.

Launch of PTSB Reflecting Ireland

Top 10 Savings Tips

Supporting Local with Champion Green

The most popular New Year Resolution for 2024 is to sort out our finances. We all want to feel in control of our finances, and as the high cost of living continues to bite, it has become a priority for most of us. We provide tips on how to get on top of your finances on www.ptsb.ie/blog

I enjoyed being interviewed by Henry NcKean of Newstalk for the Moncrieff Show today about Friday the 13 ^th and why we are so attached to superstitions ...