Scoping behavioural research education and training provision in the UK (Protocol)

Despite growing demand for behavioural research skills across government, healthcare, business and other sectors, we do not have a clear picture of whateducation andtraining for behavioural research is available, where gaps exist, or how accessible current options are. This information is essential for planning future education and training and ensuring the UK has the skilled workforce it needs. Therefore, we are mapping the behavioural research education and training opportunities currently accessible toUKaudiences. Between January 2026 and April 2026, we will systematically search for and document all such provision since 2020, including a variety of forms from short workshops to extended programmes. We’ll use both generative AI-powered tools and traditional search methods to ensure comprehensive coverage. The final report will includea map of current education and training provision, contentgaps, geographic coverage, accessibility, and recommendations for addressing identified gaps. This study is part of the BR-UK and Centre-UB’s initiative to strengthen behavioural research capability across the UK. This work will help education and training providers identify opportunitiesfor improving their provision, enable potential learners to find suitable courses, and provide evidence for funders and policymakers in theirstrategic decisions about capability building in behavioural research.