Behaviour change interventions are all the rage in the Conservative–Liberal Democrat government – but are they all they are cracked up to, asks the House of Lords?

The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee has set up a sub-committee led by Baroness Neuberger to conduct an inquiry into the effectiveness of behaviour change programmes in achieving government policy goals and helping to meet social challenges.

 A key question the committee will be asking is whether the government’s current behaviour change interventions are evidence-based and subject to robust evaluation.

Two case studies will be conducted as part of the inquiry, the first of which will look at the success or otherwise of attempts to reduce obesity. The subject of the second case study will be decided later.

Interested parties can download the full call for evidence here. Written evidence must be submitted no later than 8 October.

Our colleagues at JSOCM are currently seeking papers for the Journal of Social Marketing (JSOCM), to be launched in 2011. JSOCM focuses on research that increases our understanding of the means to induce behavioural change in a targeted audience on a temporary or permanent basis to achieve social goals. High quality academic articles including conceptual papers, critical literature reviews and rigorous empirical studies are sought for publication.

 Journal of Social Marketing

Co-editors:                   Associate Professor Sharyn Rundle-Thiele and Professor Andrew McAuley, Griffith University, Australia

Review Process:          Triple blind peer review

Established:                 2011

Frequency:                  3 issues per year

ISSN:                           2042-6763

Volume:                       Volume 1, 2011

The coverage of the journal includes, but is not limited to:

• Social marketing
• Public health
• Environmental protection
• Accident prevention/Road safety
• Alcohol
• Obesity
• Behaviour /Attitudes
• Drugs
• Gambling
• Smoking/tobacco
• Advertising
• Communication
• Pricing
• Taxes

Submit a paper

Enquiries about submissions to Journal of Social Marketing should be directed to the co-editors:

Associate Professor Sharyn Rundle-Thiele: s.rundle-thiele@griffith.edu.au

Professor Andrew McAuley: a.mcauley@griffith.edu.au

 More information, including author guidelines, can be found at www.emeraldinsight.com/jsocm.htm.

Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide has been named the title sponsor of the 2^nd World Non-Profit and Social Marketing Conference.  The World Conference, to be held in Dublin, Ireland, on April 11-12, 2011, will focus on applying strategic communications, marketing and behaviour change methodology to solve key social challenges across the globe.  The conference will bring together experts in social marketing, the behavioural sciences, strategic communications, health promotion, community engagement, policy development and advocacy.

Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, a global, multi-disciplinary communications leader operating in more than 70 markets worldwide, has been in the forefront of helping clients, including government agencies, foundations, and businesses, apply social marketing solutions to health, safety and social issues for more than two decades.

“This is shaping up to be a groundbreaking conference,” observed Robert Enefer    , Managing Director of the conference organisers, The Conference People. “The line-up of speakers is truly world class and, with the support of Ogilvy Public Relations, we’re looking to produce a spectacular event for all attendees.  The partnership with Ogilvy underlines the status of the World Non-Profit and Social Marketing Conference as the leading conference in the social marketing world.”

In addition to keynote speakers, workshops and poster sessions, the World Conference will host an exhibition that provides for sharing examples of social marketing interventions and the impact and learning that they produced.  The first World Conference in Brighton, UK in 2008 attracted over 800 delegates from across the globe.  The 2011 conference is expected to add to the number and diversity of delegates, including government officials, policy think tanks and advocacy and charitable organizations.

“Ogilvy Public Relations is tremendously honored to support this pioneering conference,” said Tom Beall, Managing Director of Ogilvy’s Global Social Marketing Practice.”  “The Conference will convene at a critical time as more leaders in the public and private sectors across the world recognize the benefits of applying social marketing techniques to addressing vital social and health issues,” Beall concluded.