BRU Publications

Published Papers

Poluektova, O., Barjaková, M., & Lunn, P. D. (2025). Enhancing Consumer Satisfaction in Complex Choices Through a Sequential Elimination Approach. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 59(1), e70000. [Journal Article]

Martin, L., Delaney, L., & Doyle, O. (2023). The Distributive Effects of Administrative Burdens on Decision-Making. Journal of Behavioral Public Administration, 6. [Journal Article]

Papadopoulos, A., McGowan, F., Timmons, S., & Lunn, P.D. (2023). Switching activity in retail financial markets in Ireland. ESRI Research Series, No. 161. [ESRI Report] [Press Release]

Belton, C.A., Robertson, D.A., & Lunn, P. D. (2022). An Experimental Approach to Measuring Consumer Preferences for Water Charges. Utilities Policy, 76, 101375. [Journal Article][Press Release]

Julienne, H., Barjaková, M., Robertson, D. A., & Lunn, P. D. (2021). The effects of online disclosure about personalised pricing on consumers: Results from a lab experiment in Ireland and Chile. OECD publishing. [OECD Report] [Research Bulletin]

Timmons, S., Barjaková, M., McElvaney, T. J., & Lunn, P. (2020). Official advice improves mortgage-holders’ perception of switching: Experimental evidence. Behavioral Public Policy. [Journal Article (open access)] [Research Bulletin] [Press Release] [OSF]

Timmons, S., McElvaney, T. J. & Lunn, P. D. (2020). An experiment for regulatory policy on broadband speed advertising. Journal of Behavioral Economics for Policy, 3(2), 17-24. [Journal Article] [Working Paper] [OSF]

Carthy, P., Lunn, P. D., & Lyons, S. (2020). Demographic variation in active consumer behaviour: On-line search for retail broadband services. Heliyon, 6(7), e04478. [Journal Article] [Research Bulletin]

Belton, C., & Lunn, P. D. (2020). Smart choices? An experimental study of smart meters and time-of-use tariffs in Ireland. Energy Policy, 111243. [Journal Article] [Working Paper] [Research Bulletin] [Press Release] [OSF]

McGowan, F. P., & Lunn, P. D. (2019). Supporting decision-making in retirement planning: Do diagrams on Pension Benefit Statements help? Journal of Pension Economics & Finance, 1-21. [Journal Article] [Downloadable Version] [Research Bulletin]

Timmons, S., McGowan, F. P., & Lunn, P. D. (2019). Setting defaults for online banking transactions: Experimental evidence from personal loan repayment terms. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, 23, 161-165. [Journal Article] [Downloadable Version] [Research Bulletin] [OSF]

McElvaney, T. J., Lunn, P. D., & McGowan, F. P. (2018). Do consumers understand PCP car finance? An experimental investigation. Journal of Consumer Policy, 41(3), 229-255. [Journal Article] [Downloadable Version] [Research Bulletin]

Lunn, P. D., & Lyons, S. (2018). Consumer switching intentions for telecoms services: evidence from Ireland. Heliyon, 4(5), e00618. [Journal Article (open access)] [Research Bulletin]

Lunn, P., McGowan, F. P., & Howard, N. (2018). Do some financial product features negatively affect consumer decisions? A review of evidence. ESRI Research Series, No. 78. [ESRI Report]

Lunn, P. D. & Bohacek, M. (2017). Price transparency in residential electricity: Experiments for regulatory policy. Journal of Behavioral Economics for Policy, 1(2), 31-37. [Journal Article (open access)] [Working Paper] [Research Bulletin]

Lunn, P., Bohacek, M., & Rybicki, A. (2016). An experimental investigation of personal loan choices. ESRI Res. [ESRI Report]

Lunn, P., Bohacek, M., Somerville, J., Ni Choisdealbha, A., & McGowan, F. (2016). Price Lab: An investigation of consumers’ capabilities with complex products. Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) Research Series. [ESRI Report]

Lunn, P. D., & Duffy, D. (2015). Perceptual noise and perceived inflation after the Euro currency changeover. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, 7, 1-16. [Journal Article] [Downloadable Version]

Lunn, P. D. (2013). Telecommunications consumers: A behavioural economic analysis. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 47(1), 167-189. [Journal Article] [Downloadable Version] [Working Paper] [Research Bulletin]

Lunn, P. D. (2013). The role of decision-making biases in Ireland's banking crisis. Irish Political Studies, 28(4), 563-590. [Journal Article] [Downloadable Version]

Lunn, P. (2012). Can Policy Improve Our Financial Decision-Making? ESRI Renewal Series, No. 8. [ESRI Report]

Lunn, P., & Lyons, S. (2010). Behavioural economics and “vulnerable consumers”: a summary of evidence. ESRI. [ESRI Report]

Duffy, D., & Lunn, P. D. (2009). The misperception of inflation by Irish consumers. The Economic and Social Review, 40(2), 139. [Journal Article (open access)] [Working Paper]

Working Papers

Robertson, D. A., Poluektova, O., Lavin, C., Timmons, S., & Lunn, P. D. (2024). A behaviourally-informed app can encourage switching of financial products. ESRI Working Paper 782. [Working Paper]

McGowan, F., Papdopoulos, A., Lunn, P.D. (2023). Who switches and why? A diagnostic survey of retail financial services in Ireland. ESRI Working Paper 748. [Working Paper]

Lunn, P., Julienne, H., Belton, C. & Timmons, S. (2022). Understanding Solutions to Problem Debt: An Experimental Investigation. ESRI Working Paper 726. [Working Paper] 

Timmons, S., Robertson, D & P. Lunn (2022). Combining nudges and boosts to increase precautionary saving: A large-scale field experiment. ESRI Working Paper 722. [Working Paper] 

Belton, C. A., Robertson, D. A., & Lunn, P. D. (2020). An experimental study of attitudes to changing water charges in Scotland. ESRI Working Paper 654. [Working Paper]

McGowan, F. P., Lunn, P., & Robertson, D. A. (2019). Underestimation of money growth and pensions: Experimental investigations. ESRI Working Paper 611. [Working Paper]

McGowan, F. P., Lunn, P., & Robertson, D. A. (2018). The framing of options for retirement: Experimental tests for policy. ESRI Working Paper 604. [Working Paper]

McGowan, F. (2018). The roaming regulation and the case for applying behavioural industrial organisation to EU competition policy. ESRI Working Paper 598. [Working Paper]

Published Papers

Larkin, J., Foley, L., Timmons, S., Hickey, T., Clyne, B., Harrington, P., & Smith, S. M. (2025). How do people with multimorbidity prioritise healthcare when faced with tighter financial constraints? A national survey with a choice experiment component. BMC Primary Care, 26(57). [Journal Article]

Lunn, P. D., Timmons, S., & Robertson, D. A. (2025). Promoting a nationwide collective response: lessons from the Social Activity Measure during the COVID-19 pandemic. ESRI Research Series, No. 204. [Research Bulletin] [ESRI Report]

Murphy, R., Taaffe, C., Byrne, M., Delaney, L., Lunn, P. D., Robertson, D. A., Ryan, H., & Wood, A. (2024). Improving the management of hospital waiting lists by using nudges in letters: A randomised controlled trial. Social Science & Medicine, 361. [Journal Article]

Poluektova, O., Papadopoulos, A., Robertson, D. A., & Lunn, Peter D. (2024). Trust in Cervical Screening and Attributions of Blame for Interval Cancers Following a National Controversy. British Journal of Health Psychology, 29, 788–813. [Journal Article] [Research Bulletin]

Lunn, P., S. Timmons, D. Robertson, H. Julienne, C. Lavin, M. Barjaková, O. Poluektova, K. Mohr, Y. Andersson, F. McGowan and A. Papadopoulos (2024). Behavioural evidence to inform the COVID-19 pandemic response: Ireland's Social Activity Measure (SAM), Behavioural Public Policy, 8(4), 670-684. [Journal Article] 

Robertson, D. A., Timmons, S., & Lunn, P. D. (2024). Behavioural evidence on COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Public Health, 227, 49-53. [Journal Article]

Timmons, S., McGinnity, F., & Carroll, E. (2023). Ableism differs by disability, gender and social context: Evidence from vignette experiments. British Journal of Social Psychology, 63(2), 637-657. [Journal Article] [Research Bulletin]

Robertson, D. A., Andersson, Y., & Lunn, P. D. (2023). How consumer and provider responses to nutritional labelling interact: An online shopping experiment with implications for policy. Food Policy, 121, 102563. [Journal Article]

Ó Ceallaigh, D., Timmons, S., Robertson, D. A., & Lunn, P. D. (2023). Measures of problem gambling, gambling behaviours and perceptions of gambling in Ireland. ESRI Research Series, No. 169. [ESRI Report].

Ó Ceallaigh, D., Timmons, S., Robertson, D. A., & Lunn, P. D. (2023). Problem Gambling: A narrative review of important policy-relevant issues. ESRI Survey and Statistical Report Series, No. 119. [ESRI Report].

Poluektova, O., Robertson, D. A., Rafferty, A., Cunney, R., & Lunn, P.D (2023). A Scoping Review and Behavioural Analysis of Factors Underlying Overuse of Antimicrobials, JAC Antimicrobial Resistance, 5(3). [Journal Article].

Cucchiarini, V., Lunn, P.D., Robertson, D. A., & Viale, R. (2023). Using Social and Behavioural Science to Support COVID-19 Pandemic Response. In Handbook of Labor, Human Resources and Population Economics, pp.1-41. [Book Chapter]

Timmons, S., Carroll, E., & McGinnity, F. (2023). Experimental Tests of Public Support for Disability Policy. ESRI Research Series, No. 159. [ESRI Report] [Press Release]

Lunn, P.D. & Timmons, S., (2023). Public Misperceptions of COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness and Waning: Experimental Evidence from Ireland. Public Health, 214, 81-84. [Journal Article]

Julienne, H., C. Lavin, C. Belton, M. Barjaková, S. Timmons & P. Lunn (2022). Behavioral pre-testing of COVID Tracker, Ireland’s contact-tracing app. Journal of Behavioral Public Administration, (5)1, 1-17. [Journal Article]

Robertson, D., Mohr, K., Barjaková, M., & Lunn, P. (2022). Experimental pre-tests of public health communications on the COVID-19 vaccine: A null finding for medical endorsement, risk and altruism. Vaccine, (40)27, 3788-3796. [Journal Article] 

Gormley, L., Belton, C., Lunn, P., & Robertson, D. A. (2022). Interventions to Increase Physical Activity: A Review of Behavioural Mechanisms. Preventive Medicine Reports, 28, 101880. [Journal Article]

Timmons, S., Belton, C.A., Robertson, D. A., Barjaková, M., Lavin, C., Julienne, H. & Lunn P.D. (2022). Is it riskier to meet 100 people outdoors or 14 people indoors? Comparing public and expert perceptions of COVID-19 risk. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 29(1), 32–51. [Journal Article][Press Release] [Working Paper] [OSF]

Barjaková, M. & Lunn P. D. (2022). Behavioural Science and the COVID-19 Pandemic: How understanding human behaviour helps policy-makers in times of crisis. Sistemi Intelligenti, 2, 309-327. [Journal Article] [Journal Article (author version)]

Mallon P.W.G., Horgan M., McAloon C.G., Lunn P. D., Little J., Beck A., Bennett A., Shaver N., McConway A., O’Regan R., Whelan B., & Rapid Testing Expert Advisory Group, Ireland (2022). Development of a risk assessment profile tool to determine appropriate use of SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen detection tests for different activities and events in Ireland, since October 2021. Eurosurveillance, 27(3), [Journal Article]

Lunn, P. et al. (2022). Social Activity Measure (Waves 1-36). ESRI. [Reports]

Robertson, D. A., Mohr, K. S., Barjaková, M., & Lunn, P. D. (2021). A lack of perceived benefits and a gap in knowledge distinguish the vaccine hesitant from vaccine accepting during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological Medicine, 53(7), 3238-3241. [Journal Article] [Working Paper]

Barjaková, M., & Lunn, P. D. (2021). Perception, Behaviour and Communication in relation to Rapid Antigen Detection Tests – A Narrative Review of Evidence. Paper published by the Rapid Testing Expert Advisory Group to the Department of Health. [Paper Link]

Lunn, P. D. (2021). Coronavirus in Ireland: One behavioural scientist’s view. Mind & Society, 20, 229-233. [Journal Article]

Robertson, D. A., Lavin, C., & Lunn, P. D. (2020). Can visual cues to portion size reduce the number of portions consumed? Two randomized controlled trials. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 55(8), 746-757. [Journal Article] [Research Bulletin] [Press Release] [OSF]

Timmons, S., McGinnity, F., Belton, C. A., Barjaková, M., & Lunn, P. D. (2020). It depends on how you ask: measuring bias in population surveys of compliance with COVID-19 public health guidance. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 75, 387-389. [Journal Article] [Working Paper] [Research Bulletin] [OSF]

Timmons, S., Barjaková, M., Robertson, D. A., Belton, C. A., & Lunn, P. D. (2020). Public understanding and perceptions of the COVID-19 test-and-trace system. ESRI Survey and Statistical Report Series, No. 96. [ESRI Report] [Press Release]

Belton, C. A., Julienne, H., Timmons, S., Barjaková, M., Lavin, C., McGowan, F., & Lunn, P. D. (2020). Public expectations for lifting Covid-19 restrictions. ESRI Survey and Statistical Report Series, No. 88. [ESRI Report] [Press Release] 

Lunn, P. D., Timmons, S., Julienne, H., Belton, C. A., Barjaková, M., Lavin, C., & McGowan, F. (2020). Using decision aids to support self-isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic. Psychology & Health, 36(2), 195-213. [Journal Article] [Working Paper] [Press Release] [OSF]

Lunn, P. D., Timmons, S., Belton, C. A., Barjaková, M., Julienne, H., & Lavin, C. (2020). Motivating social distancing during the Covid-19 pandemic: An online experiment. Social Science & Medicine, 265, 113478. [Journal Article] [Working Paper] [Press Release] [OSF]

Lunn, P. D., Belton, C. A., Lavin, C., McGowan, F. P., Timmons, S., & Robertson, D. A. (2020). Using behavioural science to help fight the Coronavirus: A rapid, narrative review. Journal of Behavioural Public Administration, 3(1) 1-15. [Journal Article] [Journal Article (author version)] [Working Paper] [Press Release]

Robertson, D. A., & Lunn, P. D. (2020). The effect of spatial location of calorie information on choice, consumption and eye movements. Appetite, 144, 104446. [Journal Article] [Working Paper] [Research Bulletin]

Working Papers

Ó Ceallaigh, D., Timmons, S., Robertson, D., & Lunn, P. D. (2024). Childhood gambling experiences and adult problem gambling. ESRI Working Paper 780. [Working Paper]

Robertson, D. A., Andersson, Y., Lavin, C., & Lunn, P. D. (2023). Comparing expert and public perceptions of the obesity epidemic in 3 countries. ESRI Working Paper 768. [Working Paper]

Barjaková, M., & Lunn, P. D. (2021). Perception, behaviour and communication in relation to rapid antigen detection tests – a narrative review of evidence. Rapid Testing Expert Advisory Group. [Working Paper]

Published Papers

Martin, L., Timmons, S., & Lunn, P. D. (2024). Encouraging Cooperation in Climate Collective Action Problems. EPA Behavioural Insights Series, No. 3. [EPA Report][Research Bulletin]

Timmons, S., Papadopoulos, A., & Lunn, P. D. (2024). Survey instructions bias perceptions of environmental health risks. Journal of Risk Research, 1-19 [Journal Article] [Research Bulletin] [Working Paper]

Timmons, S., Papadopoulos, A., & Lunn, P. (2024). Public perceptions of electromagnetic fields and environmental health risks. ESRI Survey and Statistical Report Series, No. 126. [ESRI Report]

Barjaková, M., Belton, C. A., Purcell, K., & Lunn, P. D. (2024). Effective communication of time-of-use electricity tariffs: Plain and simple. Utilities Policy, 90, 101798. [Journal Article] [Working Paper] [OSF]

Timmons, S., Whelan, A., & Kelly, C. (2024). An experimental test of a greenwashing inoculation intervention in Ireland: Effects of ‘pre-bunking’ on identification, consumer trust and purchase intentions. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 47, 318–328. [Journal Article] [Working Paper] [Press Release] [Research Bulletin]

Timmons, S., Andersson, Y., Lee, M., & Lunn, P. D. (2024). What is preventing individual climate action? Impact awareness and perceived difficulties in changing transport and food behaviour. ESRI Research Series, No. 186. [ESRI Report] [Press Release] 

Timmons, S., Andersson, Y., & Lunn, P. D. (2024). Communicating climate change as a generational issue: experimental effects on youth worry, motivation and belief in collective action. Climate Policy, 24(10), 1–17. [Journal Article] [Working Paper] [Research Bulletin][Press Release]

Poluektova, O., Julienne, H., Robertson D.A., Braiden. A.K, Lunn, P.D. (2024). Primacy Effects in the Formation of Opinions on an Unfamiliar Environmental Topic: Experimental Evidence from Mineral Exploration and Mining. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 94, 102248. [Journal Article] [Research Bulletin]

Timmons, S., Andersson, Y., McGowan, F. P., & Lunn, P. D. (2024). Active travel infrastructure design and implementation: Insights from behavioral science. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 15(3),e878. [Journal Article] [Research Bulletin]

Timmons, S., & Lunn, P. D. (2023). Behaviourally-informed household communications increase uptake of radon tests in a randomised controlled trial. Scientific Reports, 13, 20401. [Journal Article] [Working Paper]

McGowan, F. P., Denny, E., & Lunn, P. D. (2023). Looking beyond time preference: Testing potential causes of low willingness to pay for fuel economy improvements. Resource and Energy Economics, 75, 101404. [Journal Article] [Research Bulletin]

Timmons, S. and P. Lunn (2023). Using information provision and interactive risk maps to motivate testing for radon. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 89. [Journal Article] [Working Paper] [Research Bulletin] [Press Release] [OSF]

Andersson, Y., Timmons, S., & Lunn, P. D. (2022). Youth Knowledge and Perceptions of Climate Mitigation. ESRI Research Series, No. 153. [Press Release] [ESRI Report]

Timmons, S., & Lunn, P. D. (2022). Public understanding of climate change and support for mitigation. ESRI Research Series, No. 135. [ESRI Report] [Press Release]

Ní Choisdealbha, Á., & Lunn, P. D. (2020). Green and Simple: Disclosures on eco-labels interact with situational constraints in consumer choice. Journal of Consumer Policy, 43(4), 699-722. [Journal Article] [Working Paper] [Research Bulletin]

Ní Choisdealbha, Á., Timmons, S., & Lunn, P. D. (2020). Experimental evidence for the effects of emissions charges and efficiency information on consumer car choices. Journal of Cleaner Production, 254, 120140. [Journal Article] [Working Paper] [OSF]

Lunn, P., Lyons, S., & Murphy, M. (2020). Predicting farms' noncompliance with regulations on nitrate pollution. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 63(13), 2313-2333. [Journal Article] [Working Paper] [Research Bulletin]

Working Papers

Timmons, S., Shier, A. J., Poluektova, O. & Lunn, P. D. (2024). Fashion, Fast or Slow? Effects of binary and graded eco-labels on sustainable clothing purchases. ESRI Working Paper 792. [Working Paper]

Andersson, Y., Timmons, S., Lee, M., & Lunn, P. D. (2024). Going Green in Stages: Psychological processes behind intention formation and action for climate mitigation. ESRI Working Paper 785. [Working Paper]

Andersson, Y., McGowan, F., Timmons, S., & Lunn, P. D. (2023). Status Quo Bias impedes active travel policy by changing the process of opinion formation. ESRI Working Paper 755. [Working Paper]

Published Papers

Capraro, V., Lentsch, A., Acemoglu, D., Akgun, S., Akhmedova, A., Bilancini, E., Bonnefon, J-F., Brañas-Garza, P., Butera, L., Douglas, K. M., Everett, J. A. C., Gigerenzer, G., Greenhow, C., Hashimoto, D. A., Holt-Lunstad, J., Jetten, J., Johnson, S., Kunz, W. H., Longoni, C., Lunn, P. D., Natale, S., Paluch, S., Rahwan, I., Selwyn, N., Singh, V., Suri, S., Sutcliffe, J., Tomlinson, J., van der Linden, S., Van Lange, P. A. M., Wall, F., Van Bavel, J. J., & Viale, R. (2024) The impact of generative artificial intelligence on socioeconomic inequalities and policy making. PNAS Nexus, 3(6),191. [Journal Article] 

Lunn, P. (2023). Ten Years of Ireland’s Behavioural Research Unit. In Behavioral Public Policy in a Global Context: Practical Lessons from Outside the Nudge Unit, pp. 25-37. [Book Chapter]

Lunn, P. D. (2019) Nudger beware: Diagnosis precedes remedy. Journal of Behavioural Economics for Policy, 3(Special Issue), 23-26. [Journal Article]

Lunn, P., Bohacek, M., McGowan, F., & Ní Choisdealbha, A. (2019). The surplus identification task and limits to multi-attribute consumer choice. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 26(2), 312–338. [Journal Article] [Downloadable Version] [Working Paper]

Lunn, P. D., & Ní Choisdealbha, Á. (2018). The case for laboratory experiments in behavioural public policy. Behavioural Public Policy, 2(1), 22-40. [Journal Article]

Lunn, P., & Robertson, D. (2018). Using behavioural experiments to pre-test policy. ESRI Budget Perspectives 2019. [ESRI Report] [Press Release]

Lunn, P. D. (2015). Are consumer decision-making phenomena a fourth market failure? Journal of Consumer Policy, 38(3), 315-330. [Journal Article] [Downloadable Version] [Working Paper]

Lunn, P. D. (2014). Regulatory policy and behavioural economics. OECD publishing. [OECD Report]

Lunn, P. D. (2013). Researchers Imply, Policymakers Infer: the Relationship Between Evidence and Policy. Journal of the Statistical & Social Inquiry Society of Ireland, 42. [Journal Article]

Lunn, P. D. (2012). Behavioural economics and policymaking: Learning from the early adopters. The Economic and Social Review, 43(3), 423-449. [Journal Article] [Working Paper]

Working Papers

Lunn, P. D., & Somerville, J. J. (2015). Surplus identification with non-linear returns. ESRI Working Paper 522. [Working Paper]

Lunn, P., & Lunn, M. (2014). What can I get for it? The relationship between the choice equivalent, willingness to accept and willingness to pay. ESRI Working Paper 479. [Working Paper]