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Behavioral Data Science: All You Need to Know
Published
12th Sep, 2023
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In this article, we will discuss behavioral data science and how to start your career. We will go through everything you need to know about data science and behavioral science, including all the most crucial details.
One in-demand profession is data science. There is certainly an opportunity for growth in this industry, and if you aspire to be an analyst or want to make a shift into the field of data science, you should learn more about Online Data Science Courses.
What is Behavioral Data Science?
Behavioral data science is in a futuristic role, and we expect to see more in-depth roles in the future. Behavioral data science is an emerging field that will help researchers perform better research. The behavioral data science model combines the fields of behavioral science (psychology, sociology, economics, etc.) and other fields, such as data science, engineering, statistics, finance, and more. It helps us create better prediction models and algorithms.
One popular misunderstanding about behavioral data science is that it is concerned with predicting human behavior, although this is not the case. It provides information regarding algorithmic and system behavior. It can be classified as different branches of behavioral science. Such a prediction model uses more data to determine what will happen. As a result, the behavioral data science field is required.
Examples of Behavioral Data Science
Some of the cases where we can employ this discipline to predict behavior are:
- How can we determine the quality of life that people will have?
- How could we go about formulating a more effective marketing strategy that takes risk into account?
- How can we achieve better economic outcomes?
Why Does Data Science Need Behavioral Scientists?
Behavioral data science addresses the issues of human behavior and supports the optimization of decisions and outcomes. This model can identify all the flaws that are fully or partially present in the data. Other deep learning models can assist you in understanding why customers prefer one product over another. However, it cannot provide a specific solution to the driving factor.
We will have a much better understanding of human behavior as a result of this study, allowing us to better prepare for stocks and supply-demand predictions. AI is one of the buzzwords we keep hearing these days. When AI fails to predict human behavior because it disregards behavioral theory, behavioral data science takes a step further by spotting patterns and making recommendations based on them.
What is Unique About Behavioral Data Science?
Unlike data science, which uses data and algorithms to find patterns, behavioral data science is focused on human emotion. Behavioral data science tries to learn more about human psychology, its ideas, and its biases so that better predictions can be made or patterns can be found. It is not only a science subject, but it also requires expertise from other areas of psychology, sociology and so on. Its uniqueness and interest lie in its underlying disciplines that use data to explain human behavior.
Who is Behavioral Data Scientist?
A behavioral data scientist is someone who usually develops predictions and system models using data. They also assess the impact of social and economic factors on human behavior and forecast the most likely reaction.
What Does a Behavioral Scientist Do?
In terms of roles, the same role can have more than one name, like data scientist, data manager, behavioral scientist, data analyst, and so on. But what matters most is the core roles you're playing.
Some of the most typical expectations of a behavioral data scientist are:
- They should be good with large data and modern tech.
- They can use machine learning on real-world data.
- They should enjoy discussing methods in disciplines such as mathematics, statistics, and economics with clients.
The 3 Strands of Behavioral Data Science
In the introduction, I mentioned that behavioral data science is more than just studying human behavior. Let's get into further detail about different strands of behavioral data science.
1. Human Behavior Strand
The Human behavior strand uses concepts from the fields of psychology, behavioral science, and other soft sciences that support data in order to better understand human behavior.
2. Algorithmic Behavior Strand
The algorithmic behavior strand is the second strand in behavioral data science. It measures the intelligence of algorithms. It employs fields like statistics and computer science to predict behavior.
3. Systems Behavior Strand
The systems behavior strand looks at complex models like networks, connections, and cultural differences. This strand technically studies how humans interact with algorithms. So in some ways, this strand needs knowledge from the above two strands.
Behavioral Data Scientist: Roles and Responsibility
The roles and responsibilities of a behavioral data scientist might differ from organization to organization, as each group has its primary agenda to fulfill. A behavioral data scientist's typical roles and responsibilities are as follows:
- Study human behavior with the help of data.
- Conduct surveys and research to obtain a deeper knowledge of human decision-making.
- Prepare questionnaires, focus groups, and research models.
- Clean, transform and analyze the data.
- Based on the result, develop hypotheses and publish papers. In other words, translate the data into insight.
- Communicate the facts and solutions to your client.
- Prepare dashboards and reports for client presentations.
- Work with clients to understand why people behave the way they do and conduct AB testing to see what triggers them.
- Assist policymakers and institutions in developing better solutions for the general public.
- Data can be used to train AI to predict more accurate patterns.
- Create computational and cognitive systems.
Behavioral Data Science Salary
According to the Comparably website, the compensation of a behavioral scientist in the United States ranges from $45,390 to $118,080. With a median salary of $78,621.
| Experience | Avg Pay of Behavioral Analyst | Avg Pay of Behavioral Scientist | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-1 Years | $50,958 /yr. | $81,150 /yr. | United States |
| 1-3 Years | $55,420 /yr. | $89,430 /yr. | United States |
| 4-6 Years | $59,442 /yr. | $99,334 /yr. | United States |
| 7-9 Years | $64,626 /yr. | $108,033 /yr. | United States |
It should be noted that this may differ depending on experience, skills, and region.
Behavioral Data Science Career Path
The employment opportunities in data science are quite promising. You can build your career in a variety of professions and areas of competence.
Let's look at the various paths you can take to become a behavioral data scientist. There are two paths: academics and professional practice.
1. Academic Route
If you want to pursue this field formally, you'll need a master's degree and a doctorate in behavioral science. You can conduct research in both the public and private sectors, begin teaching, and write your thesis or books on the subject.
All of these methods will strengthen your knowledge of the subject, and with this better comprehension, you will always have an advantage.
2. Professional Route
This path has a more application-based approach, with you incorporating behavioral science concepts into your work. This differs depending on the businesses and sectors with which you operate. Because each sector has different focus points and goals, the study of behavior may differ from one industry to the next.
In the public sector, for example, their goals might be to achieve sustainable development, ensure that people pay their taxes on time, and improve their quality of life. In a private company, such as Google, your mission would be to understand human behavior around product selection.
3. Careers in the Public vs Private Sector
In the public sector, you will learn about low-budget research issues alongside more economic situations. However, in the private sector, you will often be given a fixed agenda by the company for a particular problem.
Aside from the two stated above, you can attend career events and workshops. Make direct contact with experts and seek mentorship from them. These are not typical ways, but they are worth a try. This will assist you in gaining practical knowledge and real-world experience.
Behavioral Data Scientist Job opportunities
The truth is that the titles "data scientist," "behavioral data scientist," "analyst," and "data engineer" are commonly used interchangeably. This confuses both the job seeker and the employer. As the organization lacks clarity on what the ideal position should be, a candidate looks into all available paths while job hunting.
However, if you're looking for a job as a behavioral data scientist, you'll find that relatively few firms use this exact word in their job description. So be willing to look for data scientist jobs and thoroughly read the job descriptions. It should be a good fit for your skills and help you progress in your career. Aside from that, there isn't a single company in the market today that doesn't want to use data and understand how people feel to get ahead in the market. This is a growing profession, but it comes with a lot of misconceptions, so keep an eye out for it.
How to Become a Behavioral Data Scientist
As previously said, there are two paths to becoming a data scientist: academic or professional. Aside from these two, you can learn more by attending open events and career seminars. However, because of work and a lack of possibilities, it is becoming more difficult to advance in this profession. If you're having trouble making these decisions, take the next step toward becoming a behavioral data scientist. Enroll yourself in online courses and check for the Data Science Bootcamp Syllabus to start your journey. You can do them at home when it's most convenient for you.
Skills Required To Be a Behavioral Data Science
The following list of skills are the ones that are most frequently requested from a data scientist:
- Statistics
- Behavioral science.
- Programming and coding
- Predictive modeling
- Machine learning and deep learning
- Data wrangling and preparation
- Model deployment
- Business knowledge
- Problem-solving skills
- Creative solutions
- Communication and Collaboration
The Future of Behavioral Data Science
There is continuous technological progress to improve the human quality of life and make things easier for them using technology. AI is one of the most proposed solutions. It can provide the right framework, make data-driven decisions, and predict and perform functions beyond human imagination. A strong framework has been established to store, analyze, and understand all forms of information available. The future is not far away when Siri and Alexa will only take simple voice commands. But with this rise of technology, there is fear among the public as well. Technology is taking human jobs, privacy is getting blurred, and there are global-level crises. With the growth of AI, the government has started to make ethical rules and a code of conduct to make sure that smart technology doesn't hurt human rights.
There are many debates in support of and against AI. Some believe it is the natural next step toward progress, while others fear it and stand against it. AI should promote and help humans, not undermine them, and this is going to be one of the biggest challenges for a behavior scientist to resolve. Behavioral scientists' role in the future is to work closely with technology and human emotions. They will map the interactions between technology and society, helping to make the right decision.
This will ensure that technology becomes a friend of humans and not a foe. For example, if AI can be evolved enough to understand society and emotions, then it can become an impartial judge in a court. But they should be able to detect truth and lie, not just pass judgment based on data or facts, but also take humanity's perspective into account. This will take a lot of testing, research, and practice. Over time, it will help technology to have the right consciousness and the true form of intelligence.
Conclusion
This blog introduces some of the fundamental concepts behind behavioral data science, as well as relevant skills, careers, salaries, and future prospects. This article will provide you with an overview of what this role in the field of data science includes. If you're reading this and want to take the first step toward becoming a behavioral data scientist, enroll in KnowledgeHut’s Data Science Courses Online.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are examples of behavioral data science?
Behavioral data science is in a futuristic role, and we expect to see more in-depth roles in the future. Some examples are:
- website traffic
- online purchase behavior
- search terms
2. Why should companies use behavioral analytics?
One of the main reasons that companies are using behavioral analytics is to understand consumer behavior patterns.
3. How is behavioral data collected?
Behavioral data can be collected through sources that are a link between the company and the customer, such as websites, call centers, support platforms, and such.
4. Why can psychologists be great data scientists?
Psychologists are good at reading human emotions and can quantify them as well. Hence, with proper data and technology, they can create advanced studies.
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