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The Behavior Change Technique Taxonomy (v1) of 93 Hierarchically Clustered Techniques: Building an International Consensus for the Reporting of Behavior Change Interventions

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background

CONSORT guidelines call for precise reporting of behavior change interventions: we need rigorous methods of characterizing active content of interventions with precision and specificity.

Objectives

The objective of this study is to develop an extensive, consensually agreed hierarchically structured taxonomy of techniques [behavior change techniques (BCTs)] used in behavior change interventions.

Methods

In a Delphi-type exercise, 14 experts rated labels and definitions of 124 BCTs from six published classification systems. Another 18 experts grouped BCTs according to similarity of active ingredients in an open-sort task. Inter-rater agreement amongst six researchers coding 85 intervention descriptions by BCTs was assessed.

Results

This resulted in 93 BCTs clustered into 16 groups. Of the 26 BCTs occurring at least five times, 23 had adjusted kappas of 0.60 or above.

Conclusions

“BCT taxonomy v1,” an extensive taxonomy of 93 consensually agreed, distinct BCTs, offers a step change as a method for specifying interventions, but we anticipate further development and evaluation based on international, interdisciplinary consensus.

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Acknowledgments

The present work carried out as part of the BCT Taxonomy project was funded by the Medical Research Council. We are grateful to the very helpful input from Felicity Roberts, Members of the BCT Taxonomy project International Advisory Board (IAB), and expert coders.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Outcomes Research Effectiveness, Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 7HB, UK

    Susan Michie DPhil, CPsychol, Marie Johnston PhD, CPsychol & Caroline E. Wood PhD

  2. University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, St Luke’s Campus, Heavitree Road, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK

    Michelle Richardson PhD & Charles Abraham DPhil, CPsychol

  3. Aberdeen Health Psychology Group, University of Aberdeen, Institute of Applied Sciences, College of Life Sciences and Medicine, 2nd floor, Health Sciences Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK

    Marie Johnston PhD, CPsychol

  4. Division of Health Services Research & Management, City University London, C332 Tait Building, City University London, Northampton Square, London, EC1V 0HB, UK

    Jill Francis PhD, CPsychol

  5. Behavioural Science Group, The Primary Care Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Institute of Public Health, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK

    Wendy Hardeman PhD

  6. Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, 21 Claremont Place, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AA, UK

    Martin P. Eccles MD

  7. School of Psychology, University of Kent, Keynes College, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NP, UK

    James Cane PhD

Authors
  1. Susan Michie DPhil, CPsychol
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  2. Michelle Richardson PhD
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  7. Martin P. Eccles MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Susan Michie DPhil, CPsychol.

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Michie, S., Richardson, M., Johnston, M. et al. The Behavior Change Technique Taxonomy (v1) of 93 Hierarchically Clustered Techniques: Building an International Consensus for the Reporting of Behavior Change Interventions. ann. behav. med. 46, 81–95 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-013-9486-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-013-9486-6

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