Evaluating Expectations from Social and Behavioral Science about COVID-19 and Lessons for the Next Pandemic

Working Paper

This review provides a rigorous assessment of 742 scientific articles on human behavior during COVID-19.

Citation

Ruggeri, Kai, Friederike Stock, S. Alexander Haslem, Valerio Capraro, Paulo Boggio, Naomi Ellemers, Aleksandra Cichoka, et al. “Evaluating Expectations from Social and Behavioral Science About COVID-19 and Lessons for the Next Pandemic.” PsyArXiv, (2022). https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/58udn

Date Posted

Oct 10, 2022

Authors

  • Kai Ruggeri, 
  • Friederike Stock, 
  • S. Alexander Haslam, 
  • Valerio Capraro, 
  • Paulo S. Boggio, 
  • Naomi Ellemers, 
  • Aleksandra Cichocka, 
  • Karen M. Douglas, 
  • David G. Rand, 
  • Mina Cikara, 
  • Eli J. Finkel, 
  • Sander van der Linden, 
  • James N. Druckman, 
  • Michael J. A. Wohl, 
  • Richard E. Petty, 
  • Joshua A. Tucker, 
  • Ellen Peters, 
  • Azim Shariff, 
  • Michele Gelfand, 
  • Dominic J. Packer, 
  • Paul van Lange, 
  • Gordon Pennycook, 
  • Katherine Baicker, 
  • Alia J. Crum, 
  • Kim A. Weeden, 
  • Lucy E. Napper, 
  • Nassim Tabri, 
  • Jamil Zaki, 
  • Linda J. Skitka, 
  • Shinobu Kitayama, 
  • Dean Mobbs, 
  • Cass R. Sunstein, 
  • Matteo M. Galizzi, 
  • Katherine Milkman, 
  • Marija Petrović, 
  • Anna Louise Todsen, 
  • Ali Hajian, 
  • Sanne Verra, 
  • Vanessa Buehler, 
  • Maja Friedemann, 
  • Marlene Hecht, 
  • Rayyan Mobarak, 
  • Jolanda Jetten, 
  • Ralitsa Karakasheva, 
  • Markus R. Tünte, 
  • Siu Kit Yeung, 
  • R. Shayna Rosenbaum, 
  • Yuki Yamada, 
  • Sa-kiera Tiarra Jolynn Hudson, 
  • Irina Soboleva, 
  • Lucía Macchia, 
  • Eugen Dimant, 
  • Sandra J. Geiger, 
  • Eike Kofi Buabang, 
  • Marna Landman, 
  • Žan Lep, 
  • Hannes Jarke, 
  • Tobias Wingen, 
  • Jana Berkessel, 
  • Silvana Mareva, 
  • Lucy McGill, 
  • Francesca Papa, 
  • Bojana Većkalov, 
  • Felice Tavera, 
  • Jack Andrews, 
  • Aslı Bursalıoğlu, 
  • Zorana Zupan, 
  • Lisa Wagner, 
  • Joaquin Navajas, 
  • Marek A. Vranka, 
  • Lindsay Novak, 
  • Kathleen Hudson, 
  • Paul Teas, 
  • Nikolay R. Rachev, 
  • Jay J. Van Bavel, 
  • Robb Willer

Area of Study

Tags

Read the full article

Abstract

Social and behavioral science research proliferated during the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting the substantial increase in influence of behavioral science in public health and public policy more broadly. This review presents a comprehensive assessment of 742 scientific articles on human behavior during COVID-19. Two independent teams evaluated 19 substantive policy recommendations (“claims”) on potentially critical aspects of behaviors during the pandemic drawn from the most widely cited behavioral science papers on COVID-19. Teams were made up of original authors and an independent team, all of whom were blinded to other team member reviews throughout. Both teams found evidence in support of 16 of the claims; for two claims, teams found only null evidence; and for no claims did the teams find evidence of effects in the opposite direction. One claim had no evidence available to assess. Seemingly due to the risks of the pandemic, most studies were limited to surveys, highlighting a need for more investment in field research and behavioral validation studies. The strongest findings indicate interventions that combat misinformation and polarization, and to utilize effective forms of messaging that engage trusted leaders and emphasize positive social norms.

View More Research