do something different: how technology can change behaviour
DESCRIPTION
A talk given by Professor Karen Pine of Do Something Different at the Drink Aware seminar entitled, Can Technology Really Change Behaviour. Karen shows how Do Something Different is making great strides in this area and also warns of the traps inherent in taking behaviour change into the digital sphere. 1. Technology must not become another means of transmitting information. Too many traditional behaviour change approaches have been predicated on the ‘information deficit model’. This assumes that people lack knowledge (e.g. about how to live a healthy life). And that if we simply educate them about healthy living they will act in their own best interests. But the human brain is a habit machine. And knowing what to do is no guarantee that people will do it. So we must avoid using technology simply to impart more information, but in a jazzier, prettier, more interactive way. Technology must be used to address what people DO, not what they KNOW. That’s what Do Something Different does. It changes people through small positive actions. It assumes they already have a good idea of what they should do, but they just need help doing it. 2. Technology can personalise behaviour change Behaviour change is more likely to result from an intervention that the individual feels is relevant and personal to them. The diagnostics we use at Do Something Different mean a person can input their personal details online. Then our system rapidly creates a bespoke programme for them that’s delivered over the following few weeks. With our sophisticated technology behaviour change no longer has to be a ‘one size fits all’ approach. And each Do-er also has a personal Do Zone to record and share their change journey. 3. Technology can make behaviour change interventions more timely. The best time to remind a person to change is when they are in ‘doing’ mode, not in ‘thinking’ mode. Most people intend to lead a healthier life when leaving the GP’s surgery with the doctor’s warnings still ringing in their ears. But it’s when they’re back home and reaching for the booze or the burger that an intervention needs to strike. On a Do Something Different programme their Do’s arrive regularly via text or email. So, long after the person has forgotten about the health warnings or their good intentions, a Do pops up as a timely reminder. And it’s always something small that will be fun to do. Because people change when they’re having fun. They change through small positive actions. It all adds up. That’s why we change behaviour one Do at a time, using the best technology around.TRANSCRIPT
Small change, big difference:
How Do Something Different digital technology moves people towards better ways of living and working
Professor Karen Pine@karenpine
• How technology can bridge the knowing-doing gap
• Why we must avoid the technology trap aka ‘we don’t need no (more) education
• Three conditions for technology to change behaviour
Let’s look at:
Behaviour change has been dominated by the information deficit model:
People lack knowledge about how to live a healthy life…
So if we educate them about health….
They will naturally act in their own best interests.
Behaviour change needs to recognise the Knowing-Doing Gap
We don’t need no (more) education!
The fear factor isn’t working!
• We must avoid technology becoming another way of presenting yet more information (in a jazzier, interactive way).
The technology trap
• Technology must be used tackle what people DO - not try and change what they KNOW (they already know it anyway).
Changing behaviour
At Do Something Different we tackle the Doing part….
• People try new behaviours
• They do different things
• They break unhealthy habits
• Do’s arrive by text or email, interrupting their routines and disrupting their automaticity
• The Do’s are tailored to the individual.
• Programmes tackle a range of issues, run for 4-6 weeks
For the Do-er it’s a simple process…
• Insert video here Do 4_What happens next• To start ON CLICK
The Do system crunches all
the answers…
…spots where the person
needs to Do Something Different
…and populates their programme with
appropriate Dos…delivered by text
and/or email
The technology is far from simple…
Make an effort to do things for others?
Q. How often do you….
A. Never/a little
…. one act of kindness today.
E.g. offer to help someone, make a busy person a cuppa or leave a random gift somewhere at home.
Technology enables personalisation of programmes
Shift Your Butt Day
Today don't sit anywhere you would normally sit. Move to a different spot at the dining table or when watching TV.
That’s because they help break habits and are fun to do …
• Some Do’s are sent to everyone on the programme.
All Do’s are based on our research and created by the founding Professors behind Do Something Different: Profs Pine & Fletcher.
And they rate each Do …and
leave feedback
Do-ers log their progress
In their personal Do
ZoneThey record each Do
they have completed
Technology also enables Do-ers to log and share what they do differently: The Do Zone
The Do-Zone
Where Do-ers can:• see exactly
what they’ve done
• go back and revisit any Do’s they missed
• share
3 conditions for technology to change behaviour
The intervention must be:
Giving peoplethings to DO, not things to KNOW.FUN.
1 ACTION-BASED Individually-tailored
totackle the person’s habits.Bespoke and relevant.
2. PERSONALISED
Disruptive. Delivered when needed, not relianton the person‘remembering’.
3. TIMELY
Measuring change
• Technology allows us to measure change effectively
• On a Do Something Different programme Do-ers complete before and after diagnostics
• More than ever before we can accurately measure the impact of what we do – and we see how we are really changing behaviour.
@OneDoAtaTime
DoSomethingDifferent
DoSomethingDifferent
www.dsd.me