The following 15 interventions have been proven to effectively change behavior in certain contexts.
No one intervention will work in all situations, but each can be effective if used when a relevant force is at play (see crosswalk table below). Interventions should always be tailored to the context at hand and closely monitored and adjusted based on early results.
Different interventions below tend to be used more for technical changes or adaptive changes. Technical changes have issues that can be clearly identified, and solutions that can be clearly dictated and easily implemented by an individual or authority figure. Interventions for technical changes will focus on increasing knowledge and skills, or providing simple reminders. Adaptive changes, on the other hand, are harder to define (and may sometimes not even be acknowledged by all), and their solutions often require multiple changes by many actors across different parts of a system, including changes to the context in which the actors operate. Interventions for adaptive changes will focus on building internal motivation and social pressure, or changing the operating context to make it more conducive to the change.
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Ask for implementation intentions, even if just for a trial
Have actors spell out and envision a clear step-by-step plan, tied to situational cues they will encounter; if they cannot commit to long-term change, start by asking for trial period plans.Related Cases -
Change operating environment to support change
Change the physical or regulatory context to make it easier or harder to do certain behaviors; the forcefulness of the change can range from more coercive (e.g., rules against behavior or added costs for certain behavior) to more lenient (e.g., changing default choices, making certain choices more easily accessible).Related Cases -
Create meaningful incentives
Use incentives to overcome barriers of effort or convenience (but not differences in values or goals); when possible, utilize longer-term incentives and incentives that reward both individual and team performance.Related Cases -
Create tools and resources to make implementation easier
Create new tools, or modify existing ones, to minimize the effort required for the new behavior (e.g., templates, scripts, checklists); resources can also include automated technological tools or ongoing access to professional experts.Related Cases -
Educate about rationale and specific actions to take
Frame information in mutually-respected terms using data the audience finds credible. Provide very concrete, step-by-step guidance on how to implement the change.Related Cases -
Establish social norms
Publicize how most peers behave, using a comparison group that is as similar as possible to the target audience.Related Cases -
Facilitate peer gatherings to discuss the desired change
Gather peers to discuss a given change, which can help the group build buy-in and share best practices for successful implementation.Related Cases -
Institute feedback on individual and relative performance
Show frequent data about the actor’s own performance, with comparisons to individual goals or to peers when possible. This feedback can be effective on its own, and even more effective when tied to incentives.Related Cases -
Provide interactive training
Create trainings that engage participants, honor and elevate their prior experiences and suggestions, and provide opportunities for hands-on testing of the new behavior to build confidence.Related Cases -
Provide one-on-one coaching and support
Offer intensive support that can include jointly making action plans, reviewing progress and setting new goals, and providing emotional support; support should extend past initial adoption and support longer-term implementation.Related Cases -
Recruit peers to influence their networks
Choose peers who have credibility and existing personal ties to the target audience (e.g., not celebrities or authority figures).Related Cases -
Seek concrete commitments and goals
Get individuals to make specific commitments to change, including through goals that they set or that others propose and they accept. Aim for goals that are as specific as possible, accompanied by concrete and public commitments.Related Cases -
Set up ongoing reminders or other triggers
Provide automated reminders as close to the time of action as possible; if possible, make them personalized and require acknowledgement of receipt by the actor.Related Cases -
Show peer role models
Identify individuals who are similar to the target audience (e.g., professional role, region, or demographics) and who appear relatable (e.g., similar attitudes, not uniquely talented at the behavior at hand).Related Cases -
Use value-based appeals to inspire change
Trigger emotional responses to support the new behavior by aligning it to previously-held beliefs; this can include asking individuals to reflect on their own values and identity and how they might relate to the change.Related Cases
Interventions can typically address several forces
This list of interventions is more specific than the 9 listed on the COM-B wheel, since we felt this would be more useful to grant-makers. Interventions compiled from the literature and from Abraham and Michie, “A Taxonomy of Behavior Change Techniques Used in Interventions,” Health Psychology 27:3 (2008)