Joint perspectives

Interview with Isabelle Ragot-Court, Doctor in Social Psychology and Researcher in the Accident Mechanisms Laboratory at Université Gustave Eiffel, and Marc Rigolot, Director of MAIF Foundation for Research.
 

Marc Rigolot: “Despite communication campaigns from local councils, water providers and insurers, free diagnostics and subsidies for renovation works, the number of residents taking action is extremely low. Given that human decisions are based on cognitive biases (social comparison or loss aversion, for example), the aim of this project was to use behavioural science to get people to take action. You can see it – if we talk about the risk of floodwater spreading waste from our bins, versus the risk for our pets in a flood, we don't react in the same way...”.

Isabelle Ragot-Court: “Initially, our first model was based on a benchmark of existing tools, combined with interviews with professional stakeholders and local decision-makers to identify needs. We had some content, boxes that we arranged according to our ideas. We then carried out a quantitative and qualitative evaluation test on all the usability criteria. We developed several versions through this participatory approach. For each version of the tool, consultations were held with target users (representatives of various professions and citizens with different profiles). Their feedback enabled us to improve each version, so that the result is the best compromise between expectations, needs, and the satisfaction of stakeholders and citizens. The aim is for users to feel comfortable using this tool and not want to close the app after just a few minutes.”
 

Marc Rigolot: “When you take user experience into account, you get tools that are better adapted to your needs.”

Isabelle Ragot-Court : “Participatory science appeals to the general public. They are part of a co-construction process, where their voice counts.
What's interesting about participatory science is that everyone brings their own expertise to the table.
Researchers are experts in their discipline and methodology, citizens are experts in use, and professional stakeholders are experts in the type of risk they deal with. Everyone is an expert on their own scale. This is a stance that you really have to adopt from the outset.”