Behaviour change theory and evidence: a presentation to Government

Abstract

This review presents a case study of Government policy in relation to behaviour change and suggests ways of strengthening it by drawing on theoretical and empirical approaches from health psychology. It aims to inform policy-makers and politicians about the value of behavioural science, and to provide psychologists with an example of engagement with Government. It is based on two Health Psychology submissions to the 2010 UK House of Lords' Science and Technology Select Committee inquiry into Behaviour Change. The Inquiry examined current knowledge about what interventions can effectively influence behaviour, how behaviour change interventions can be used to achieve policy goals and what factors should be taken into account by government in determining whether a particular behaviour change intervention is appropriate. The review critiques current UK Government thinking about behaviour change and presents a number of linked frameworks for determining which behaviour change interventions and policies it would be sensible to research and implement. These include the COM-B system, a systems approach to understanding behaviour in context; the PRIME Theory of motivation; the Behaviour Change Wheel, including a comprehensive listing of intervention functions and policy levers; and behaviour change techniques. We end with considerations of intervention development, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness.

Keywords:

• behaviour change
• behaviour change theory
• behaviour change interventions
• evidence-based policy
• ‘Nudge’
• theory
• government policy