"clusters of sub-actions"

Hi James:

Great question. In the book I am trying to draw the reader's attention to the fact that what we frequently refer to as a "behavior" is very often made up of a variety of sub-actions or sub-behaviors, each of which often have their own set of barriers associated with them. For example, the barriers to purchasing a composter are quite different from the barriers that are associated with placing a composter in one's yard or collecting kitchen organics to take out to it. I think it is useful to breakdown these over-arching behaviors to gain greater clarity regarding the barriers that exist to the individual sub-actions that make up the over-arching behavior and what strategies we might use to overcome them. This is different in my mind than a behavioral script or behavioral chain. From my recollection, behavioral scripts or chains refer to behaviors that trigger the subsequent action. When I was an undergrad I once taught a young man with learning difficulties to tie his shoe laces. Using the idea of behavioral chaining we began working the last behavior in the chain, having him pull one loop through the other repeatedly until he had learned that task. We then went back one step in the chain with the understanding that when he completed the second last step in the chain it would naturally trigger the last step in the chain. This is a distinct concept from what I am referring to as clearly the sub-actions that are associated with composting, and many other sustainable behaviors, do not naturally trigger one another. Whether anyone has referred this elsewhere I am uncertain.

Best, Doug

Doug McKenzie-Mohr
Environmental Psychologist
McKenzie-Mohr & Associates Inc.
Canada
http://www.cbsm.com

Behaviour is what is observed directly or indirectly. It is the consequence of actions which have intended and unintended consequences. Actions occur at all levels or scales, as parts of nested systems. This is why action management at all levels is the basis of behaviour.

John Troughton
Australia

Very helpful! Thanks to both Doug and John for the feedback. I'm looking into the sub-actions that volunteers may take as part of the planning process they go through leading up to their performing the desired end-state behavior (in this case volunteering to help maintain public outdoor recreation trails)to see if there are any intervention opportunities that might support their attempts to perform the behavior.

James Cahill
Graduate Student and State Lands Manager
University of Washington (student), State of Washington (land manager)
United States

Hi James
We often use what we call a 5#5 process. Ask what are they 5 most important actions to achieve an end, then for each of the 5 what are the 5 and then for each of the 5 what are the 5 etc. By now you have over 125 actions to manage that influence behaviour, so that is a lot of detail, which sounds as though it is what you are looking for.


John Troughton
Australia

Thanks John! Yes, that is what I am trying to find out - this is great! I am also trying to determine the order or sequence (critical path if you will) of set of sub-actions. Have you any advice on techniques to apply that have been developed, or is it simply a matter of asking people to recall the priority order to what I would describe as a controlling factor where unless the person is successful in attempting the sub-action, their attempt at performing the desired end-state behavior will not materialize?

Jim

James Cahill
Graduate Student and State Lands Manager
University of Washington (student), State of Washington (land manager)
United States

If you are dealing with a sequential process, then the 5#5 approach is perfect, just list the actions sequentially. The beauty of this then is that you can mathematically simulate it and you get a win win. It describes and can track all actions required to produce the desired behaviour, and it can also determine the rate limiting step or steps.

John Troughton
Australia

Many thanks John! This will help a great deal with my participant interviews. Jim

James Cahill
Graduate Student and State Lands Manager
University of Washington (student), State of Washington (land manager)
United States