May 2023 - BehSci - University of Stirling Mailing Lists

Behavioural Science cluster – IAS studentship shortlisting: Your help is needed (one last time)
by Till Stowasser 21 May '23

21 May '23

Dear Behavioural Science cluster, A big thank you to everyone who contributed with their initial scoring of EoIs. These were enormously helpful! Based on your scores, we have now narrowed down the shortlist to 15 applicants. In a final step, we now have to choose the Top 9, so we have to eliminate another 6 EoIs. This final selection will be made on the basis of the following two criteria: 1. Do we have supervisory capacity for a proposal like this? 2. Is the proposal credibly interdisciplinary? For this, we would like to ask for your help one last time. I am attaching an excel table with the top 15 applicants * Columns A-R contain the original applications (incl. personal statement & research proposal) * Columns S to X contain the initial scores by those who helped us out * Column Y contains the average of these scores * Column Z is new and we would like as many of you as possible to fill this in for us * The info we need is simple: Would you be able to (co-)supervise this student? * 4 possible answers * 3 = Yes, definitely. I am actually keen to be part of the supervisory team for this student * 2 = Fine, I could see myself getting involved in supervising * 1 = Hmmm, borderline but I could get involved as co-supervisor * 0 = No, not really * We would ideally like as many interdisciplinary supervisory teams as possible * So please consider whether you can score a 1, even if it is not your principal area of interest * For example: Say you are a Health Psychologist and the application is behavioural-economics heavy but touches on health-related questions, we would be grateful if you didn’t dismiss it right away but would consider joining perhaps as secondary supervisor (and score with 1) So here is the favour: Could I ask each of you to fill in column Z of the attached table and return to me by this coming Monday, noon? * As always: The more the merrier Thanks so much and best wishes, Till ________________________________ Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159

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Fwd: IAS Studentships update - Initial review
by Till Stowasser 09 May '23

09 May '23

Dear Behavioural Science cluster, Please don’t mind the odd time, I’m writing this. I’m currently in a different time zone. IAS has released some initial numbers on the expressions of interest and the news is very good. While we don’t yet have information on individual student quality, it is fair to say that we hit the targets when it comes to raw numbers. * Our sub-cluster received the fourth-most applications out of 39 clusters * We are actually just one application shy of tying for 2nd place in that metric * Equally important, we are ranked overall second when it comes to applications from Home students * With an overall number of 37 EoIs (12 Home, 25 International), I feel that we are in a strong position going forward. Details here: Expressions of Interest by cluster summary.pdf<https://stir.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/InstituteforAdvancedStudies/EcE_3jqpEsNOl…> Best, Till Begin forwarded message: From: Institute for Advanced Studies <ias(a)stir.ac.uk<mailto:ias@stir.ac.uk>> Subject: IAS Studentships update - Initial review Date: 20. April 2023 at 23:31:45 GMT+9 To: Institute for Advanced Studies <ias(a)stir.ac.uk<mailto:ias@stir.ac.uk>> All As you know, the student competition for our IAS studentships closed last Friday, 14 April. The response was fantastic and completely outstripped our expectations. In total we received 714 Expressions of Interest. Since the closing date, IAS has undertaken a first review of the EoIs received to check that they meet the basic eligibility criteria we set in terms of completing the form, university entrance requirements etc. After this initial check was completed, we were left with 617 valid EoIs. You can see some summary information about how these were distributed across the clusters and overarching themes here in the Expressions of Interest by cluster summary.pdf<https://stir.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/InstituteforAdvancedStudies/EcE_3jqpEsNOl…> . The IAS Executive met yesterday to consider whether any other sifting was required before sending EoIs to clusters for review. As throughout the process, we agreed to impose as few conditions as possible, to enable the process to be driven by student quality and demand whilst ensuring we end up with viable clusters. On the latter point, we decided to make one additional ‘cut’ at this point. As we have said throughout, we regard 3 students as the minimum for a viable cluster. In order to be confident that we will fill the available places, we have made the difficult decision that the 8 clusters that received 6 EoIs or fewer will not move forward as the risk of having fewer than 3 students accepting places is material. Earlier today I contacted those cluster leads to advise them of this decision and the outcome for their clusters. The IAS Executive also decided to add some additional filtering criteria to those included in the guidance document on recruitment and selection [pdf icon] IAS Studentships Recruitment and Selection Guide.pdf<https://stir.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/InstituteforAdvancedStudies/Ee5piHqZtIZAn…> previously distributed, these are noted below In their final submissions to IAS, clusters should put forward, A ranked list of up to 6 preferred candidates, and a ranked list of 3 reserves on the scoring grid that IAS will provide; No more than 4 of the candidates/reserves can be from overseas. (This is because given the limited funding envelope available and the number of international fee waivers within that, our assumption is that we will need to adopt a distribution rule similar to that in place for DTPs etc that no more than 30% of our final awards will be to overseas students); Unless there are exceptional circumstances, nominated candidates should have one or both of a first class undergraduate degree and a Masters degree (the former or latter can be due for award in 2023). Once again, please accept my thanks for all of the effort you have put into the studentships process so far. The response to the student competition demonstrates that there is extremely strong demand from high quality candidates to study for PGR degrees at Stirling. The clusters that you have worked hard to form are clearly focused on important and attractive research ideas, and we encourage you to keep developing them via the Festival of Research events for each overall theme that are happening next month and beyond. Very best wishes Iain and the IAS team. ________________________________ Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159

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Liz Barnes Annual Review Presentation
by Hector Gutierrez Rufrancos 03 May '23

03 May '23

Dear Members of the Economics Division and Behavioural Science Centre (apologies for cross posting), As PhD convener, it is my pleasure to be able to invite you to Liz Barnes's first annual review. This will take place per the invite attached. A brief recap of the process. Over the course of their first year our PhD students are expected to produce a draft of a paper alongside ongoing training in Economics and Research methods. At the end of their first year, Students have their first milestone in their programme in the form of their annual review. This annual review is comprised of a public presentation to the division (and a formal closed doors review.) I strongly urge current and new PhD students to attend this presentation as it will help give them an idea of the process that they too will undertake. Liz will be presenting on The Impact of STI Test Modality (in-clinic versus online postal self-sampling) and Funding Source Reminder on Valuation, Adherence intentions, and Preference for STI Tests: A UK experimental study Abstract People are increasingly able to test for a variety of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) using ‘test-at-home’ kits technically known as online postal self-sampling (OPSS), in addition to being able to use services administered by healthcare professionals e.g., at a clinic or GP surgery. Whilst OPSS has been well received, particularly by younger people, there remain issues surrounding the responsible and appropriate use of both clinic and self-sample tests, with concerns about wastage and implications for poor health. Previous research indicates that in systems where health care is provided free-at-point-of-use (e.g., the National Health Service in the UK), the inclusion of a reminder that medical services are funded by the taxpayer can boost valuation of products and services, and improve adherence (e.g., intentions to follow instructions accompanying medications or services). Drawing on this approach, we employ an experimental design to examine whether test modality (in-clinic versus OPSS) and the inclusion (or not) of a reminder that the services are ‘Funded by the UK taxpayer’ on an STI test service website, impacts valuation of the service and adherence intentions with test requirements. Counter to previous findings, results indicate the reminder of the funding source did not influence outcomes. However, test modality was impactful, with in-clinic tests (versus OPSS) being valued more monetarily, but not subjectively. Participants also indicated greater preference (more likely to use), and greater adherence intentions (complete the testing process as recommended) for OPSS versus in-clinic tests. Findings offer insight into the role of test modality on STI testing valuation and adherence, whilst also highlighting potential limitations of using funding source disclosure to encourage more positive health attitudes and behaviours. I hope to see you there! ________________________________________________________________________________ Microsoft Teams meeting Join on your computer, mobile app or room device Click here to join the meeting<https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YmFjYjM3YzctMmZjMy00…> Meeting ID: 370 958 020 270 Passcode: bcJZhX Download Teams<https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/download-app> | Join on the web<https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-teams/join-a-meeting> Or call in (audio only) +44 131 460 4091,,544259000#<tel:+441314604091,,544259000#> United Kingdom, Edinburgh Phone Conference ID: 544 259 000# Find a local number<https://dialin.teams.microsoft.com/1527ff80-ccf9-40fa-b6de-02ba24680550?id=…> | Reset PIN<https://dialin.teams.microsoft.com/usp/pstnconferencing> Learn more<https://aka.ms/JoinTeamsMeeting> | Meeting options<https://teams.microsoft.com/meetingOptions/?organizerId=0228eca0-8fdd-4a53-…> ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________ Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence The University of Stirling is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC 011159

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