Overview
In this half-day seminar, Chief Behavioural Scientist, Dr Dirk Van Rooy and Lauren Rasche from ThinkPlace, will unpack how you can use data to answer policy questions and to evaluate policy. Covering the essential information, the seminar will provide an introduction to research designs, cover different techniques for collecting data, and will discuss measurement issues.
You will get the chance to work through practical exercises to demonstrate the use of frameworks such as the Theory of Change, which can help articulate how various options are expected to work and the strength of the evidence that underpins them.
This interactive seminar will also discuss how you can evaluate policy outcomes, determine the extent to which a policy caused or contributed to a set of outcomes, understand what a good outcome is and how to measure it. Dirk and Lauren will bring the seminar to a close by discussing practical and ethical issues when dealing with vulnerable populations.
What can I expect from this seminar?
- Maximise your learning and your time through one in-depth session
- Breakout room activities - put theory into practice and work through any questions
- Networking opportunities - Build new connections with like-minded peers in breakout sessions
- Gain the essential knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions
Who should attend?
This seminar has been designed for public sector policy professionals looking to develop and build their data skills and capabilities, including those with responsibility for:
Although the seminar touches on different topics and issues, policy professionals with an advanced understanding of using data and evidence are not recommended to attend.
Hear what other attendees have said about recent ThinkPlace workshops:
- “...the facilitators did a fantastic job...it’s been really great to work with you” - Clean Energy Regulator co-design workshop participant, November 2020
- “The Discussion is getting more interesting by the second” - APSC Leading in a Digital Age participant, October 2020
- “[the facilitators] did a great job, and I was really impressed with the way the workshop was run” - ACT Government Theory of Change workshop, June 2020
Attend to learn:
- An understanding of key terms related to making decisions with data
- Knowledge of how people make decisions using data
- Practical experience with a simple, structured process you can follow to make decisions using data
- Knowledge of key data & analysis concepts
- The ability to have an informed conversation with data professionals in your organisation
Key Speakers
ThinkPlace
Dr Dirk Van Rooy is Chief Behavioural Scientist at ThinkPlace, and a senior research fellow in the Policy Experiments Lab and the Australian National University.
His academic and applied work for industry and government is very much focused on how psychology, tools and technologies can help create positive behaviour change to promote resilience, health and sustainable behaviour. Some of the questions he focuses on in his work are: How can we promote positive behaviour change using behavioural insights and technology? What are the individual and social biases that shape our thinking, behaviour and decision making? How do organisations, governments and its leaders deal with uncertainty and complexity? He currently works in the ANU Policy Experiments Lab, a collaborative team of researchers and related resources that work on experimental and quasi-experimental studies with an explicit policy focus.
ThinkPlace
Lauren Rasche is a Business Designer at ThinkPlace with a background in Economics and Psychology. She has extensive experience in the design and execution of highly educational and practical seminars. Since starting at ThinkPlace, Lauren has contributed to the curriculum and delivery of programs for diverse audiences, from high school students to senior public servants. She is able to apply adult learning theories to communicate complex concepts such as systems thinking and Theory of Change.