Abstract
How can progress in research on health behavior change be accelerated? Experimental medicine (EM) offers an approach that can help investigators specify the research questions that need to be addressed and the evidence needed to test those questions. Whereas current research draws predominantly on multiple overlapping theories resting largely on correlational evidence, the EM approach emphasizes experimental tests of targets or mechanisms of change and programmatic research on which targets change health behaviors and which techniques change those targets. There is evidence that engaging particular targets promotes behavior change; however, systematic studies are needed to identify and validate targets and to discover when and how targets are best engaged. The EM approach promises progress in answering the key question that will enable the science of health behavior change to improve public health: What strategies are effective in promoting behavior change, for whom, and under what circumstances?
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 573-600 |
| Number of pages | 28 |
| Journal | Annual review of psychology |
| Volume | 68 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 3 2017 |
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Keywords
- Construct
- Correlational data
- Experimental medicine
- Interventions
- Theory
- Trials
Cite this
Health Behavior Change : Moving from Observation to Intervention. / Sheeran, Paschal; Klein, William M.P.; Rothman, Alexander J.
In: Annual review of psychology, Vol. 68, 03.01.2017, p. 573-600.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Health Behavior Change
T2 - Moving from Observation to Intervention
AU - Sheeran, Paschal
AU - Klein, William M.P.
AU - Rothman, Alexander J
PY - 2017/1/3
Y1 - 2017/1/3
N2 - How can progress in research on health behavior change be accelerated? Experimental medicine (EM) offers an approach that can help investigators specify the research questions that need to be addressed and the evidence needed to test those questions. Whereas current research draws predominantly on multiple overlapping theories resting largely on correlational evidence, the EM approach emphasizes experimental tests of targets or mechanisms of change and programmatic research on which targets change health behaviors and which techniques change those targets. There is evidence that engaging particular targets promotes behavior change; however, systematic studies are needed to identify and validate targets and to discover when and how targets are best engaged. The EM approach promises progress in answering the key question that will enable the science of health behavior change to improve public health: What strategies are effective in promoting behavior change, for whom, and under what circumstances?
AB - How can progress in research on health behavior change be accelerated? Experimental medicine (EM) offers an approach that can help investigators specify the research questions that need to be addressed and the evidence needed to test those questions. Whereas current research draws predominantly on multiple overlapping theories resting largely on correlational evidence, the EM approach emphasizes experimental tests of targets or mechanisms of change and programmatic research on which targets change health behaviors and which techniques change those targets. There is evidence that engaging particular targets promotes behavior change; however, systematic studies are needed to identify and validate targets and to discover when and how targets are best engaged. The EM approach promises progress in answering the key question that will enable the science of health behavior change to improve public health: What strategies are effective in promoting behavior change, for whom, and under what circumstances?
KW - Construct
KW - Correlational data
KW - Experimental medicine
KW - Interventions
KW - Theory
KW - Trials
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85009455145&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85009455145&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1146/annurev-psych-010416-044007
DO - 10.1146/annurev-psych-010416-044007
M3 - Article
C2 - 27618942
AN - SCOPUS:85009455145
VL - 68
SP - 573
EP - 600
JO - Annual Review of Psychology
JF - Annual Review of Psychology
SN - 0066-4308
ER -