Behavioural Science at Work

Applied Behavioural Science

CPD course

Behavioural Science at Work:

"Applying Behavioural Insights in the workplace and beyond"

Independently certified by the globally-recognised CPD accreditation agency, the CPD Standards Office

Enrol Now

Next course commencing Q3 2026.
Secure your place now!

More info

Q&A

What is the aim of this course?

To give students an in-depth understanding of human choices, decision-making and behaviour – what drives them? How are they impacted by an individual’s specific social, psychological and cognitive context?

Who should attend?

Anyone who is interested in understanding why humans behave the way they do!

Former students have been based in the UK, Costa Rica, Switzerland, Spain, Germany and Italy. They have been employed in the following sectors: HR, finance, insurance, executive coaching, healthcare, education, marketing, UX design, pharmaceuticals, government departments (tax, environment, agriculture, finance) and NGOs / charities.

Former students have included working professionals as well as graduate students and individuals who were on career breaks or between jobs and were looking to upskill.

What will I learn?

You will be equipped with the practical skills and knowledge to apply behavioural insights to change behaviour and achieve better outcomes at work and in your personal life. You will learn how to apply what you have learned across a wide range of domains including product pricing, staff recruitment & evaluation, advertising, public service messaging, branding, product design, worker well-being & engagement, and compliance. There will be a heavy emphasis on ethical applications throughout.

Topics covered include:

Who teaches the course?

Dr. Diane Pelly

Diane is a behavioural economist and a behavioural science and worker well-being expert. She is a highly experienced lecturer who has taught at both University College Dublin (UCD) and Trinity College Dublin (TCD)

How will the course be delivered?

The main body of the course is structured as 10 separate mini-modules, with a new one being released each week. Each one builds on the previous modules. Each week will have a designated online folder containing all of the asynchronous core and supplementary materials for that week, along with the slides for that week’s live tutorial.

In order to cater for students who do not live in Dublin, Ireland, the course is delivered entirely online. Prior to commencing the course, all students will be provided with an overview of the course and a welcome / prep package which contains a recommended (entirely voluntary) reading list, a copy of the behavioural science ‘glossary’ specifically created for this course and some prep content.

To cater for different learning styles the core content takes the form of a series of pre-recorded videos which group the core topics into easily-digestible bite-sized chunks, accompanied by a set of powerpoint slides.

There will be one compulsory two-hour live tutorial each week, which will be held on Zoom. As knowledge increases, the tutorials will become increasingly interactive, incorporating live polls, games, breakout room tasks, whole groups discussions etc. The aim of the tutorials is to bring the core content covered that week to life by discussing it with your classmates and applying it to real-life situations.

The live tutorials take place on Monday evenings between 6:30pm and 8:30pm

Timetable

6:30pm - 8:30pm

Who can attend this course?

Anyone with a good level of English who has access to the internet and a PC with a webcam and microphone. Students will need to install Zoom on their PCs prior to starting the course

There are no knowledge / skill prerequisites to attend this course. No prior behavioural science knowledge is assumed. Core concepts and theory are introduced in the first four weeks and are then built on throughout the remainder of the course, with a strong emphasis on real-life applications from the very beginning.

Even if you do already have some behavioural science knowledge, don’t worry – you will definitely not be bored! We will ensure that you are constantly provided with opportunities to delve further into the topics that interest you most through the provision of supplementary materials, applied case studies etc. This is an extremely in-depth course and will leave all students with a very high level of knowledge at the end.

How is the course assessed?

Upon successful completion of the course, all students will receive a certificate of completion which contains an accreditation badge from the globally recognised and world-leading CPD accreditation agency, The CPD Standards Office.

We recognise that our students are usually time-pressed working professionals who are trying to balance busy work and home lives. This course does not therefore have any formal assessment component. Completion is dependent on students’ attendance at the weekly live tutorials and their engagement with the core content presented each week.

How do I register?

Enrol Now

Next course commencing Q3 2026.
Secure your place now!

More info

Course Feedback

“Diane was a really engaging, knowledgeable and personable lecturer. She always provided relatable examples of concepts which brought the content to life”

“It was one of the most enjoyable courses that I have taken in some time.”

“Lecturer was interesting and engaging, classes were never boring”

The studies/experiments have been very useful in a professional setting, helping me to back up my opinions with relevant studies”

“It’s honestly hard to narrow down to most interesting or useful, I can’t think of anything that wasn’t interesting or useful!”

“The additional material provided was of huge benefit and the opportunity to understand human behaviour from an academic perspective was enjoyable.”

“I really enjoyed the course and there was nothing that I disliked”

“The course was brilliant”

“Diane was incredibly engaging and always sought interaction"

“The course was very beneficial. I learned many new concepts and their applications in the real world.”

“Dr. Diane was thorough and deeply knowledgeable “

“I really liked the way the course was structured. There was a lot of information, but I can review the portions in my own time so it isn't really a problem”

“It's a complicated subject, but the mix of recordings with live lectures was really useful. The course was very well delivered”

“Thought it was excellent, really liked the pre class video study content rather than reading - (was able to walk and listen to the videos at the same time)”

“I liked how the modules covered were so relevant to our daily lives irrelevant of our professions. Very relatable yet intriguing and enjoyable”

“The tutorials gave coherence to the online content. Great mix of asynchronous and live material. Great resources provided”

“The course was a great introduction to the theory of BS. Each example and statement presented had citations of the study that backed up the findings”

“It was great to meet professionals from a range of backgrounds”

“I liked Diane’s enthusiasm for the course topic - quality refs & suggested reading”

“It was an incredibly interesting subject and was well taught. I really appreciated the class discussion aspect of it. Diane is very knowledgeable and engaged in the course”

“Really interesting and enjoyed the mode of delivery. The topic is very interesting and there was a natural progression through the topics”

“Overall a superb course. Diane is an excellent teacher and presenter, very grounded and also provides that bit of humour that is necessary when dealing with this topic. She did a fantastic job”

Feedback from former participants

"This introduction to Behavioural Science has been invaluable for me, professionally and personally. As a designer, it has given me a greater insight into users’ decision-making processes, and how to better serve their needs – whether they are aware of these needs or not! Even the parts of the course which were not directly relevant to my profession were fascinating and have proved useful in other areas of my life. I honestly can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t find the course interesting and useful!!"

Marc Surlis UX Designer RSA Insurance

"Thank you so much Diane!
Thank you for the great content and delivery!"

Gemma Madden Talent Acquisition Advisor OpenText

"It was an incredible journey, diving deeper into the science of human behaviour! Lots of insights into understanding our biases, emotions, and motivations and how they influence our decision-making. Thank you, Professor Dr. Diane Pelly, for walking us through this course and sharing your knowledge and wisdom!"

Danial Hasen Strategy & Business Development DTSE CZ