Samenvatting FTTI
Information from the knowledge clips that is already covered in the book chapter summaries will
not be repeated in the knowledge clips section of this summary.
1 APPLYING SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
Social psychology is a science, which tries to build knowledge primarily through
experiments and surveys.
Many societal problems have social psychological aspects, therefore social psychology
may help in clarifying such problems and contribute to finding solutions.
APPLYING SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY: THE PATHS FROM PROBLEM TO
INTERVENTION TO SUCCESS
PATHS:
- Problem: From a problem to problem definition: identifying and defining the
problem
- Analysis: From a problem definition to analysis and explanation: formulating
appropriate concepts and developing theory-based explanations
- Test: From explanations to a process model: developing and testing an
explanatory process model
- Help: From a process model to interventions: developing and implementing a
programme of interventions
- Success: From implementing the intervention to evaluating its success
PROBLEMS WITH APPLYING THEORIES
There are important limitations of research in social psychology, because much of the
general knowledge stems from laboratory experiments
1 Oversimplification
- Situation in experiments is a reduction and simplification of reality
o A single laboratory experiment can never examine complex interplay of
variables, and examines two or three causal variables at most
- EHect sizes can be used to compare relationships between variables used in
experiments
2 External validity
- All kinds of factors in real life may obscure the impact of variables that are
manipulated in experiments
3 Contradictory evidence
- Studies often produce contradictory findings.
o Often because studies have subtly diHerent methods
,CONCLUSION
Paths model should not be used in rigid way. Going from a problem to an intervention is
an iterative process: one moves back and forth between the diHerent steps
INTRODUCTION LECTURE
Many societal, health, wellbeing and organizational issues are dependent on or
influenced by human behavior, on which behavior change techniques can have a big
impact.
Health behavior determinants:
- Knowledge
o About health
o About what healthy behavior entails
o About consequences of behavior
- Skills
o Self-regulation
o Obtaining knowledge
o Impact on behavior
o Impact on environment
- Motivation
o Intrinsic motivation
o Incentives
- Environment
o Cues for behavior
o Social support
o Complexity
Core theory concepts
- Intention
o Intention-behavior gap
o Self-regulation
- Automatic behavior
o Habits
o Impulse
o Nudging
- Norms
o Injunctive
o Descriptive
EHective behavior change
- Assumption: Attitude -> intention -> behavior
o This does not hold up always: people know aggression/underage drinking
is bad, but still do it
, o Theory of planned behavior, three factors account for intention:
- New research: Interventions lead to medium-large eHects on intention, but
small-medium eHects on behavior (eHect dilutes). Relationship from intention to
behavior is not that clear.
- So, what does change behaviour eHectively: Environmental cues trigger habits,
impulses, goals, (social) norms based on previously learned associations
- A complex process can lead to a simple intervention: many behaviors are guided
by heuristics (or behavioral rules of thumb) -> can be targeted by non-information
based interventions, a lot of guidelines are available
o E.g.: Framing, defaults
o Complex part is choosing the right target variable
2 THE PROBLEM PHASE : FROM A PROBLEM TO A PROBLEM
DEFINITION
INTRODUCTION
Many social problems are aHected by how people relate to each other, and how their
thoughts, feelings and behaviours with respect to many issues are influenced by the
actual, imagined or implied presence of others.
Problem definition exists of:
- What is the problem
- Why is it a problem
- For whom is it a problem
, - Who is target group for the intervention
- Insights into possible causes
- Insights into key aspects (applied, concrete, social psychological,
solvable/relievable)
- In terms of behaviour, emotions or cognitions
- Better to state problem at concrete, behavioural level than desired outcome of
the behaviour (eat healthier, instead of reduce weight)
The Path from a Problem to a Problem Definition
Reasons why it is important to develop a problem definition
- Delineate what needs to be explained and oHers suggestions for finding
appropriate literature and other sources of information
- Makes it possible to map out a programme of interventions. If essence of
problem is not captured correctly, intervention will probably fail.
KEY QUESTIONS FOR A PROBLEM DEFINITION
What is the problem?
What problem needs to be understood and resolved?
Be critical towards anything a client says, if client does not agree, then either:
- Don’t reformulate problem and stick to what client wants
- Reformulate the problem
- Stop cooperation or persuade client to formulate a more ‘honest’ problem
definition (how can we enhance reputation as ‘green’ company)
Why is it a problem?
Why is a particular issue perceived as a problem?
Not only helps to specify the problem, but suggests direction for intervention
Don’t be persuaded by quick-fix solutions oHered by clients
Be careful to define problem within subjects’ interests
Helps to ask, since when is it a problem? -> historical analysis
- Can reveal the problem is not a problem
- Points to particular time when problem emerged/was noticed
- May indicate reasons why problem has suddenly increased in severity
For whom is it a problem?
Who are the parties involved in the problem?
Information from the knowledge clips that is already covered in the book chapter summaries will
not be repeated in the knowledge clips section of this summary.
1 APPLYING SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
Social psychology is a science, which tries to build knowledge primarily through
experiments and surveys.
Many societal problems have social psychological aspects, therefore social psychology
may help in clarifying such problems and contribute to finding solutions.
APPLYING SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY: THE PATHS FROM PROBLEM TO
INTERVENTION TO SUCCESS
PATHS:
- Problem: From a problem to problem definition: identifying and defining the
problem
- Analysis: From a problem definition to analysis and explanation: formulating
appropriate concepts and developing theory-based explanations
- Test: From explanations to a process model: developing and testing an
explanatory process model
- Help: From a process model to interventions: developing and implementing a
programme of interventions
- Success: From implementing the intervention to evaluating its success
PROBLEMS WITH APPLYING THEORIES
There are important limitations of research in social psychology, because much of the
general knowledge stems from laboratory experiments
1 Oversimplification
- Situation in experiments is a reduction and simplification of reality
o A single laboratory experiment can never examine complex interplay of
variables, and examines two or three causal variables at most
- EHect sizes can be used to compare relationships between variables used in
experiments
2 External validity
- All kinds of factors in real life may obscure the impact of variables that are
manipulated in experiments
3 Contradictory evidence
- Studies often produce contradictory findings.
o Often because studies have subtly diHerent methods
,CONCLUSION
Paths model should not be used in rigid way. Going from a problem to an intervention is
an iterative process: one moves back and forth between the diHerent steps
INTRODUCTION LECTURE
Many societal, health, wellbeing and organizational issues are dependent on or
influenced by human behavior, on which behavior change techniques can have a big
impact.
Health behavior determinants:
- Knowledge
o About health
o About what healthy behavior entails
o About consequences of behavior
- Skills
o Self-regulation
o Obtaining knowledge
o Impact on behavior
o Impact on environment
- Motivation
o Intrinsic motivation
o Incentives
- Environment
o Cues for behavior
o Social support
o Complexity
Core theory concepts
- Intention
o Intention-behavior gap
o Self-regulation
- Automatic behavior
o Habits
o Impulse
o Nudging
- Norms
o Injunctive
o Descriptive
EHective behavior change
- Assumption: Attitude -> intention -> behavior
o This does not hold up always: people know aggression/underage drinking
is bad, but still do it
, o Theory of planned behavior, three factors account for intention:
- New research: Interventions lead to medium-large eHects on intention, but
small-medium eHects on behavior (eHect dilutes). Relationship from intention to
behavior is not that clear.
- So, what does change behaviour eHectively: Environmental cues trigger habits,
impulses, goals, (social) norms based on previously learned associations
- A complex process can lead to a simple intervention: many behaviors are guided
by heuristics (or behavioral rules of thumb) -> can be targeted by non-information
based interventions, a lot of guidelines are available
o E.g.: Framing, defaults
o Complex part is choosing the right target variable
2 THE PROBLEM PHASE : FROM A PROBLEM TO A PROBLEM
DEFINITION
INTRODUCTION
Many social problems are aHected by how people relate to each other, and how their
thoughts, feelings and behaviours with respect to many issues are influenced by the
actual, imagined or implied presence of others.
Problem definition exists of:
- What is the problem
- Why is it a problem
- For whom is it a problem
, - Who is target group for the intervention
- Insights into possible causes
- Insights into key aspects (applied, concrete, social psychological,
solvable/relievable)
- In terms of behaviour, emotions or cognitions
- Better to state problem at concrete, behavioural level than desired outcome of
the behaviour (eat healthier, instead of reduce weight)
The Path from a Problem to a Problem Definition
Reasons why it is important to develop a problem definition
- Delineate what needs to be explained and oHers suggestions for finding
appropriate literature and other sources of information
- Makes it possible to map out a programme of interventions. If essence of
problem is not captured correctly, intervention will probably fail.
KEY QUESTIONS FOR A PROBLEM DEFINITION
What is the problem?
What problem needs to be understood and resolved?
Be critical towards anything a client says, if client does not agree, then either:
- Don’t reformulate problem and stick to what client wants
- Reformulate the problem
- Stop cooperation or persuade client to formulate a more ‘honest’ problem
definition (how can we enhance reputation as ‘green’ company)
Why is it a problem?
Why is a particular issue perceived as a problem?
Not only helps to specify the problem, but suggests direction for intervention
Don’t be persuaded by quick-fix solutions oHered by clients
Be careful to define problem within subjects’ interests
Helps to ask, since when is it a problem? -> historical analysis
- Can reveal the problem is not a problem
- Points to particular time when problem emerged/was noticed
- May indicate reasons why problem has suddenly increased in severity
For whom is it a problem?
Who are the parties involved in the problem?
