Abstract
Behaviour change technique (BCT) Taxonomy v1 is a hierarchically grouped, consensus-based taxonomy of 93 BCTs for reporting intervention content. To enhance the use and understanding of BCTs, the aims of the present study were to (1) quantitatively examine the ‘bottom-up’ hierarchical structure of Taxonomy v1, (2) identify whether BCTs can be reliably mapped to theoretical domains using a ‘top-down’ theoretically driven approach, and (3) identify any overlap between the ‘bottom-up’ and ‘top-down’ groupings.
Methods and design
The ‘bottom-up’ structure was examined for higher-order groupings using a dendrogram derived from hierarchical cluster analysis. For the theory-based ‘top-down’ structure, 18 experts sorted BCTs into 14 theoretical domains. Discriminant Content Validity was used to identify groupings, and chi-square tests and Pearson's residuals were used to examine the overlap between groupings.
Results
Behaviour change techniques relating to ‘Reward and Punishment’ and ‘Cues and Cue Responses’ were perceived as markedly different to other BCTs. Fifty-nine of the BCTs were reliably allocated to 12 of the 14 theoretical domains; 47 were significant and 12 were of borderline significance. Thirty-four of 208 ‘bottom-up’ × ‘top-down’ pairings showed greater overlap than expected by chance. However, only six combinations achieved satisfactory evidence of similarity.
Conclusions
The moderate overlap between the groupings indicates some tendency to implicitly conceptualize BCTs in terms of the same theoretical domains. Understanding the nature of the overlap will aid the conceptualization of BCTs in terms of theory and application. Further research into different methods of developing a hierarchical taxonomic structure of BCTs for international, interdisciplinary work is now required.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 130-150 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| Journal | British Journal of Health Psychology |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 12 May 2014 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 2015 |
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Keywords
- behaviour change
- health
- taxonomy
- behaviour change technique
- theory
- theoretical domains framework
- domains
Cite this
From lists of behaviour change techniques (BCTs) to structured hierarchies : Comparison of two methods of developing a hierarchy of BCTs. / Cane, James; Richardson, Michelle; Johnston, Marie; Ladha, Ruhina; Michie, Susan.
In: British Journal of Health Psychology, Vol. 20, No. 1, 02.2015, p. 130-150.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - From lists of behaviour change techniques (BCTs) to structured hierarchies
T2 - Comparison of two methods of developing a hierarchy of BCTs
AU - Cane, James
AU - Richardson, Michelle
AU - Johnston, Marie
AU - Ladha, Ruhina
AU - Michie, Susan
N1 - Acknowledgements We would like to thank the BCT Taxonomy co-investigators Charles Abraham, Jill Francis, Wendy Hardeman, Martin Eccles, and CarolineWood for their comments and help in relation to this work. This work was supported through a Medical Research Council Health Service Research Collaboration grant (ref. G0901474).
PY - 2015/2
Y1 - 2015/2
N2 - ObjectivesBehaviour change technique (BCT) Taxonomy v1 is a hierarchically grouped, consensus-based taxonomy of 93 BCTs for reporting intervention content. To enhance the use and understanding of BCTs, the aims of the present study were to (1) quantitatively examine the ‘bottom-up’ hierarchical structure of Taxonomy v1, (2) identify whether BCTs can be reliably mapped to theoretical domains using a ‘top-down’ theoretically driven approach, and (3) identify any overlap between the ‘bottom-up’ and ‘top-down’ groupings.Methods and designThe ‘bottom-up’ structure was examined for higher-order groupings using a dendrogram derived from hierarchical cluster analysis. For the theory-based ‘top-down’ structure, 18 experts sorted BCTs into 14 theoretical domains. Discriminant Content Validity was used to identify groupings, and chi-square tests and Pearson's residuals were used to examine the overlap between groupings.ResultsBehaviour change techniques relating to ‘Reward and Punishment’ and ‘Cues and Cue Responses’ were perceived as markedly different to other BCTs. Fifty-nine of the BCTs were reliably allocated to 12 of the 14 theoretical domains; 47 were significant and 12 were of borderline significance. Thirty-four of 208 ‘bottom-up’ × ‘top-down’ pairings showed greater overlap than expected by chance. However, only six combinations achieved satisfactory evidence of similarity.ConclusionsThe moderate overlap between the groupings indicates some tendency to implicitly conceptualize BCTs in terms of the same theoretical domains. Understanding the nature of the overlap will aid the conceptualization of BCTs in terms of theory and application. Further research into different methods of developing a hierarchical taxonomic structure of BCTs for international, interdisciplinary work is now required.
AB - ObjectivesBehaviour change technique (BCT) Taxonomy v1 is a hierarchically grouped, consensus-based taxonomy of 93 BCTs for reporting intervention content. To enhance the use and understanding of BCTs, the aims of the present study were to (1) quantitatively examine the ‘bottom-up’ hierarchical structure of Taxonomy v1, (2) identify whether BCTs can be reliably mapped to theoretical domains using a ‘top-down’ theoretically driven approach, and (3) identify any overlap between the ‘bottom-up’ and ‘top-down’ groupings.Methods and designThe ‘bottom-up’ structure was examined for higher-order groupings using a dendrogram derived from hierarchical cluster analysis. For the theory-based ‘top-down’ structure, 18 experts sorted BCTs into 14 theoretical domains. Discriminant Content Validity was used to identify groupings, and chi-square tests and Pearson's residuals were used to examine the overlap between groupings.ResultsBehaviour change techniques relating to ‘Reward and Punishment’ and ‘Cues and Cue Responses’ were perceived as markedly different to other BCTs. Fifty-nine of the BCTs were reliably allocated to 12 of the 14 theoretical domains; 47 were significant and 12 were of borderline significance. Thirty-four of 208 ‘bottom-up’ × ‘top-down’ pairings showed greater overlap than expected by chance. However, only six combinations achieved satisfactory evidence of similarity.ConclusionsThe moderate overlap between the groupings indicates some tendency to implicitly conceptualize BCTs in terms of the same theoretical domains. Understanding the nature of the overlap will aid the conceptualization of BCTs in terms of theory and application. Further research into different methods of developing a hierarchical taxonomic structure of BCTs for international, interdisciplinary work is now required.
KW - behaviour change
KW - health
KW - taxonomy
KW - behaviour change technique
KW - theory
KW - theoretical domains framework
KW - domains
U2 - 10.1111/bjhp.12102
DO - 10.1111/bjhp.12102
M3 - Article
VL - 20
SP - 130
EP - 150
JO - British Journal of Health Psychology
JF - British Journal of Health Psychology
SN - 1359-107X
IS - 1
ER -