Summary: From Theory to
Intervention (201700820)
Universiteit Utrecht | Block 1: 2025-2026 | Book: Applying Social Psychology:
From Problems to Solutions 3rd ed.
PATHS → approach to psychological intervention development
Problem = formulating a problem definition
Analysis = finding explanations for the problem
Test = developing and testing the process model
Help = towards an intervention program
Success = evaluating the intervention
Problem definition phase
Knowledge clip
Checklist for the problem; it should be:
Psychological → contain psychological contributors)
Applied → the problem should call for a solution, not just an explanation
Concrete → appropriate operationalization of the problem
Solvable
Problem definition = description of the problem
What is the problem (concrete terms)
Why is it a problem, and why should it be solved
For whom is it a problem (not necessarily the target group)
Potential causes of the problem
Summary: From Theory to Intervention (201700820) 1
, Target group, who needs behavior change
Steps in a problem defintion:
Assess the problem using the checklist (PACS) and key aspects (WWWPT)
Research; briefly review scientific literature for some more information
about the problem
Interviews and observation
Example:
Many teenagers tend to wake up during the night to check their social
media, disrupting their sleep (what)
This can pose a problem to these young people and the people around
them, like school teachers (who)
Because it can result in feeling tired at school, resulting in decreased
academic performance, health and wellbeing (why)
Potential causes are FOMO and peer pressure (causes)
An intervention could target teenagers on social media (target group)
Book: CH1
Figure 1.1 Process model (HIV example)
Summary: From Theory to Intervention (201700820) 2
, Other relevant decision to be made (outside of PATHS):
Communication channel (e.g., media or door-to-door campaign)
Do we gift donators/volunteers in return for their effort
Reciprocity norm = people feel best when they receive something in
return for what they give
Slogan for the campaign
3 limitations of research in social psychology:
Oversimplification = i.e., a lab experiment can never examine the complex
interplay of variables that affect human social behavior in the real world
Effect sizes should be taken into account → statistical measurements of
the magnitude of the relationships between variables to assess real
world significance of lab findings
External validity = several factors in real life may obscure the impact of the
variables that are clearly manipulated in experiments (e.g., priming)
Contradictory evidence = research produces contradictory findings or null
findings, failed replication studies
Summary: From Theory to Intervention (201700820) 3
, Book: CH2
Problem definition = a clear and precise description of what the problem is,
why and for whom it is believed to be a problem
Target group should be identified in the definition
Definition should give some insight into possible causes and key aspects of
the problem
i.e., whether the problem is applied, concrete, social psychological, and
solvable or relievable
The definition limits the problem in terms of behavior, emotions or
cognitions
It is better to state the problem at a concrete behavioral level than as a desired
outcome
Example: get people to snack healthier instead of getting people to lose
weight
Advantages of problem definitions:
Prevents problems in the long run; intervening in problems that are
insufficiently solvable or relievable
Without a solid problem definition, interventions may unintentionally focus
on less relevant aspects of the problem or target an audience that is too
broad
Makes the intervention unnecessarily costly
Why a problem definition often lacks in newspapers → it is not their goal to
solve a problem, their aim is to bring readers the latests news on topics that
readers find interesting
Likewise for papers in scientific journals; they aim to bring new scientific
insights on only a few variables related to the problem (not solving it)
Summary: From Theory to Intervention (201700820) 4
Intervention (201700820)
Universiteit Utrecht | Block 1: 2025-2026 | Book: Applying Social Psychology:
From Problems to Solutions 3rd ed.
PATHS → approach to psychological intervention development
Problem = formulating a problem definition
Analysis = finding explanations for the problem
Test = developing and testing the process model
Help = towards an intervention program
Success = evaluating the intervention
Problem definition phase
Knowledge clip
Checklist for the problem; it should be:
Psychological → contain psychological contributors)
Applied → the problem should call for a solution, not just an explanation
Concrete → appropriate operationalization of the problem
Solvable
Problem definition = description of the problem
What is the problem (concrete terms)
Why is it a problem, and why should it be solved
For whom is it a problem (not necessarily the target group)
Potential causes of the problem
Summary: From Theory to Intervention (201700820) 1
, Target group, who needs behavior change
Steps in a problem defintion:
Assess the problem using the checklist (PACS) and key aspects (WWWPT)
Research; briefly review scientific literature for some more information
about the problem
Interviews and observation
Example:
Many teenagers tend to wake up during the night to check their social
media, disrupting their sleep (what)
This can pose a problem to these young people and the people around
them, like school teachers (who)
Because it can result in feeling tired at school, resulting in decreased
academic performance, health and wellbeing (why)
Potential causes are FOMO and peer pressure (causes)
An intervention could target teenagers on social media (target group)
Book: CH1
Figure 1.1 Process model (HIV example)
Summary: From Theory to Intervention (201700820) 2
, Other relevant decision to be made (outside of PATHS):
Communication channel (e.g., media or door-to-door campaign)
Do we gift donators/volunteers in return for their effort
Reciprocity norm = people feel best when they receive something in
return for what they give
Slogan for the campaign
3 limitations of research in social psychology:
Oversimplification = i.e., a lab experiment can never examine the complex
interplay of variables that affect human social behavior in the real world
Effect sizes should be taken into account → statistical measurements of
the magnitude of the relationships between variables to assess real
world significance of lab findings
External validity = several factors in real life may obscure the impact of the
variables that are clearly manipulated in experiments (e.g., priming)
Contradictory evidence = research produces contradictory findings or null
findings, failed replication studies
Summary: From Theory to Intervention (201700820) 3
, Book: CH2
Problem definition = a clear and precise description of what the problem is,
why and for whom it is believed to be a problem
Target group should be identified in the definition
Definition should give some insight into possible causes and key aspects of
the problem
i.e., whether the problem is applied, concrete, social psychological, and
solvable or relievable
The definition limits the problem in terms of behavior, emotions or
cognitions
It is better to state the problem at a concrete behavioral level than as a desired
outcome
Example: get people to snack healthier instead of getting people to lose
weight
Advantages of problem definitions:
Prevents problems in the long run; intervening in problems that are
insufficiently solvable or relievable
Without a solid problem definition, interventions may unintentionally focus
on less relevant aspects of the problem or target an audience that is too
broad
Makes the intervention unnecessarily costly
Why a problem definition often lacks in newspapers → it is not their goal to
solve a problem, their aim is to bring readers the latests news on topics that
readers find interesting
Likewise for papers in scientific journals; they aim to bring new scientific
insights on only a few variables related to the problem (not solving it)
Summary: From Theory to Intervention (201700820) 4
