Johanne Mose Entwistle, Mia Kruse Rasmussen, & Robert Brewer
The idea of Personalizing Behaviour Change Technologies brings with it promises of more effective technologies, that will have the intended effects of changed behavior in relations to achieving e.g. better health or reduced energy consumption. Based on our own qualitative empirical studies as well as studies done by others within the energy sector, we will argue that although this approach holds some promise for future persuasive technologies, the insights from psychology on which it builds would have more value when seen as part of a broader nexus that also includes other factors in trying to understand what shapes and influences behaviour. The approach presented in the call lacks an in-depth understanding of the contextual nature of human behaviour which is necessary to develop technologies that can actually lead to change. With the “Contextual Wheel of Practice” we present a theoretical approach and model that bridges insights from both psychology, anthropology, sociology and HCI in the attempt to base development of persuasive technologies on knowledge about both the human as well as the structural and material context within it exist. By doing so we propose a shift in focus from “personalizing Behaviour Change” to “contextualizing practice change”
The idea of Personalizing Behaviour Change Technologies brings with it promises of more effective technologies, that will have the intended effects of changed behavior in relations to achieving e.g. better health or reduced energy consumption. Based on our own qualitative empirical studies as well as studies done by others within the energy sector, we will argue that although this approach holds some promise for future persuasive technologies, the insights from psychology on which it builds would have more value when seen as part of a broader nexus that also includes other factors in trying to understand what shapes and influences behaviour. The approach presented in the call lacks an in-depth understanding of the contextual nature of human behaviour which is necessary to develop technologies that can actually lead to change. With the “Contextual Wheel of Practice” we present a theoretical approach and model that bridges insights from both psychology, anthropology, sociology and HCI in the attempt to base development of persuasive technologies on knowledge about both the human as well as the structural and material context within it exist. By doing so we propose a shift in focus from “personalizing Behaviour Change” to “contextualizing practice change”