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Behaviour Change

Module description

From health education to policy as a health intervention, our understanding of the tools available to us to improve health behaviour continues to grow.  This module will open with a discussion about human decision making and how we can harness these processes to promote population health, before looking at a range of behaviour change theories, structural interventions  (including ‘nudges’ and large-scale policy initiatives)and frameworks to design behaviour change interventions. .  By the close of the module you should expect to understand how health and behaviour evolve in complex systems, and consider the likely course of interventions that seek to improve health.  You should expect to be assessed using authentic methods for scientific communication, in which you will consider multi-level behaviour change approaches to address a specific public health problem, with attention to the role of complexity in shaping the effectiveness of these interventions.

Face-to-face scheduled lectures may be replaced by pre-recorded overview lectures, with learning consolidated by self-directed learning resources and ELE activities.

Workshops involving face-to-face classroom teaching may be replaced by synchronous sessions on Teams/Zoom.

Module aims - intentions of the module

You will understand key theories and applications of behaviour change. 

You will understand how individual and group behaviour change interventions are developed and applied. 

You will be introduced to a range of structural public healthinterventions that impact behaviour at a population level. 

You will study how these are applied across different population groups and environments. 

You will critically evaluate how the processes and practices of these interventions impact population behaviour and health. 

You will characterise the role of implementation and sustainability in the long-term effectiveness of public health interventions.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate an understanding of key behaviour change theories and concepts at the forefront of improving health behaviour at the population level
• 2. Critically review contemporary debates around structural behaviour change interventions and large scale policy and regulatory initiatives

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Critically examine how to operationalise behaviour change approaches in public health and critically appraise the scientific literature related to public health behaviour change initiatives, including complex systems thinking.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Demonstrate a professional ability to present an evidence-based and balanced academic stance.
• 5. Communicate evidence to a range of stakeholders in an accessible and concise manner

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, an example of an overall structure is as follows:

• Understanding public health problems and human decision making Individual, group, organisational and structural level theories of behaviour change
• Frameworks for designing, evaluating and implementing complex behaviour change interventions to improve population health
• Measurement issues in public health at individual, community and environmental levels
• Public health and behavioural economics

Possible seminars will include:

• Applying behavioural insights for policy makers and practitioners
• Connecting communities to improve population health: case study

Throughout the module reference will be made to specific public health issues or populations, including current research conducted at the University of Exeter.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Re-assessment notes

Please refer to the TQA section on Referral/Deferral: http://as.exeter.ac.uk/academic-policy-standards/tqa-manual/aph/consequenceoffailure/

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Blankenship, K.M., Bray, S.J., & Merson, M.H. (2000). Structural interventions in public health. AIDS 14(S1): S11-S21.

Michie, S., West, R., Campbell, R., Brown, J., & Gainforth, H. (2014). ABC of Behaviour Change Theories. Silverback Publishing.

Michie, S., Atkins, L., & West, R. The Behaviour Change Wheel: A Guide to Designing Interventions. Silverback Publishing.

Moore, G., Evans, R.E., Hawkins, J., Littlecott, H., Melendez-Torres, G.J., Bonell, C., & Murphy, S. (2019). From complex social interventions to interventions in complex social systems: Future directions and unresolved questions for intervention development and evaluation. Evaluation (Lond). 2019;25(1):23–45. doi:10.1177/1356389018803219

O’Cathain, A., Croot, L., Sworn, K., Duncan, E., Rousseau, N., Turner, K., Yardley, L., & Hoddinott, P. (2019). Taxonomy of approaches to developing interventions to improve health: a systematic methods overview. Pilot and Feasibility Studies 5:41.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=6036

Key words search

Human health, environment, health, public health, global health, climate change, environmental change, sustainability, adaptation, mitigation, renewable energy, one health, policy.