Summary
Participant psychology is rich and multifaceted, with multiple truths and biases shaping their stories and coexisting simultaneously. By integrating behavioral science techniques into surveys, interviews, and other research methods, we can help participants share their truths more openly, and uncover deeper, more nuanced insights. We’ll inspire you to embrace these methods, offering guidance on when, how, and why they can transform your research.
Key Insights
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Short-term metrics can misrepresent success in behavior change efforts, especially in healthcare.
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Understanding the 'why' behind user actions is essential for effective design.
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Nudges can facilitate behavior change but need to be part of a comprehensive approach.
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The COM-B model provides a framework for evaluating and influencing behavior.
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Long-term engagement techniques are crucial for sustaining behavioral change beyond single interactions.
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Self-reported data can be unreliable but can be useful when accurately capturing subjective experiences.
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Participatory design methods can reveal insights that traditional self-report techniques may miss.
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Behavioral change requires both motivation and the right environmental conditions.
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Effective design integrates psychological principles that resonate with users' motivations and challenges.
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Nudges should be employed thoughtfully within a broader strategy to support sustained behavior change.
Notable Quotes
"I am particularly passionate about behavioral science as a way to understand why people do things so we can influence that in a more meaningful way."
"In healthcare, it's important that we don't just get people to do something one time, but we really get them to pick up a new way of behaving."
"It sometimes feels like we're on a hamster wheel focused on very short-term metrics."
"A nudge is a shift in the choice architecture that makes it easier to do the desired action."
"If nudges are used intelligently, they can be really effective."
"If we can check all three boxes—capability, opportunity, and motivation—we will ultimately get behavior."
"Self-report is the gold standard for understanding certain subjective phenomena, like pain."
"When talking to something automated, people are often more honest about stigmatized topics."
"Effective design integrates good psychological principles with engaging features."
"Nudges should be used sparingly at decision points, but understanding the larger journey is crucial."
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