Global Study Validates Behavioral Science's Role in COVID-19 Policymaking

Research finds evidence for 18 of 19 claims from a seminal 2020 paper, emphasizing the importance of combating misinformation and polarization.

A new global study led by Kai Ruggeri at Columbia University validates the significant role of behavioral sciences in COVID-19 policymaking, confirming most recommendations from a seminal 2020 paper.
The study finds evidence for 18 of 19 claims in the 2020 paper, including those related to sense of identity and community connectedness, leadership and trust, public health messaging, social cohesion, and misinformation.
The most strongly supported claims were the importance of interventions to combat misinformation and polarization, which proved to be vital for ensuring adherence to public health guidelines.
Public health interventions that received the most attention were not necessarily the ones best supported by the most evidence. For example, handwashing was widely promoted as a strategy for stopping the spread of COVID, yet study effects were small to null, particularly compared to masking, isolation, distancing, and vaccines.
The research team provides recommendations to help researchers and policymakers respond to future pandemics and disasters. These include the need to study global populations, to do more field testing, and to be more specific in formulating testable questions.