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A taxonomy of behavior change techniques used in interventions
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVE: Without standardized definitions of the techniques included in behavior change interventions, it is difficult to faithfully replicate effective interventions and challenging to identify techniques contributing to effectiveness across interventions. This research aimed to develop and test a theory-linked taxonomy of generally applicable behavior change techniques (BCTs). DESIGN: Twenty-six BCTs were defined. Two psychologists used a 5-page coding manual to independently judge the presence or absence of each technique in published intervention descriptions and in intervention manuals. RESULTS: Three systematic reviews yielded 195 published descriptions. Across 78 reliability tests (i.e., 26 techniques applied to 3 reviews), the average kappa per technique was 0.79, with 93% of judgments being agreements. Interventions were found to vary widely in the range and type of techniques used, even when targeting the same behavior among similar participants. The average agreement for intervention manuals was 85%, and a comparison of BCTs identified in 13 manuals and 13 published articles describing the same interventions generated a technique correspondence rate of 74%, with most mismatches (73%) arising from identification of a technique in the manual but not in the article. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate the feasibility of developing standardized definitions of BCTs included in behavioral interventions and highlight problematic variability in the reporting of intervention content.
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In the citing paper
“Literature suggests using BCTT with behaviour change theories and frameworks, such as goal setting theory, TTM, TRA, and Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) framework, for more effective and sustainable behaviour change [64–67].”
From School-based healthy eating interventions for adolescents aged 10–19 years: an umbrella review (2024) · cites this paper as [64]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“BCTT can improve intervention designs, enable cross-study analysis, and inform implementation feasibility [64, 68, 69].”
From School-based healthy eating interventions for adolescents aged 10–19 years: an umbrella review (2024) · cites this paper as [64]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“Although the prototype design process listed desired outcome behaviors of the intervention, the approach lacked clearly stated behavior change techniques for each of the desired behaviors [78].”
From Development and feasibility of a digital acceptance and commitment therapy⇓based intervention for generalized anxiety disorder: Pilot acceptability study (2021) · cites this paper as [78]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“Since the millennium, increasing emphasis has been placed on preventative medicine, patient empowerment, and behaviour change to encourage people to moderate behaviours linked to chronic illness and disease”
From Mindfulness and Resilience in Britain: A Genealogy of the “Present Moment” (2021) · cites this paper as Abraham and Michie 2008
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe check wasn’t confident either way, so it gives no verdict — never disputed.
In the citing paper
“While psychosocial theories, such as SCT, SLT, and TPB were most commonly used to inform the interventions, these interventions did not incorporate behaviour change taxonomy technique (BCTT) [64, 65].”
From School-based healthy eating interventions for adolescents aged 10–19 years: an umbrella review (2024) · cites this paper as [64]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
In the citing paper
“BCTTv1 incorporated a number of cross-behaviour BCT taxonomies [25, 26] and some behaviour-specific taxonomies for physical activity [27], alcohol use [28], smoking [29] and condom use [30].”
In the citing paper
“A method developed for this purpose is the reliable specification of interventions in terms of BCTs.20”
In the citing paper
“The taxonomy demonstrated reliability in identifying 22 BCTs (e.g.'self-monitoring') and four BCT packages (e.g.'relapse prevention').”
In the citing paper
“Abraham and Michie 20 developed the first cross-behaviour BCT taxonomy, building on previous intervention content analyses.18,19”
In the citing paper
“Previous BCTs groupings have been based on judgements made by the study author.20,27,32,33”
In the citing paper
“Findings showed no significant difference between reliability scores indicating that trained coders could identify BCTs as reliably as coders involved in defining BCTs.”
In the citing paper
“Abraham and Michie 20 assessed reliability between the two coders who developed the 26 BCT definitions (the authors) and also between the first author and two other coders trained to use the taxonomy.”
In the citing paper
“Abraham and Michie 20 reported > 93% agreement between three pairs of coders (including the authors).”
In the citing paper
“Since Abraham and Michie's 20 initial paper, intercoder reliability has been demonstrated for various subsequent BCT taxonomies.20,23,27,28,30,48”
In the citing paper
“These 22 found to frequently occur in 40 intervention descriptions include 18 of the 22 BCTs including in the Abraham and Michie taxonomy 20 based on more than 200 intervention descriptions.”
In the citing paper
“As a compromise we selected against the use of passive monitoring in favor of an older more traditional methodology for measuring adherence to behaviorally oriented treatments - homework monitoring [1].”
From Internet-enhanced management of fibromyalgia: A randomized controlled trial (2010) · cites this paper as [1]
In the citing paper
“For consistency and comparability among studies, the taxonomy of Abraham and Michie was used for the description of interactive behavior change strategies [34].”
From Which Intervention Characteristics are Related to More Exposure to Internet-Delivered Healthy Lifestyle Promotion Interventions? A Systematic Review (2011) · cites this paper as [34]
In the citing paper
“rehearsal, which is also seen as very important in learning and behavior change [37, 38]”
From Persuasive System Design Does Matter: a Systematic Review of Adherence to Web-based Interventions (2012) · cites this paper as [37]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Abraham, C., & Michie, S.
- Affiliations
- University of Sussex (GB)
- University College London (GB)
- Venue
- Health Psychology
- Published
- 2008
- Volume
- 27
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 379-387
- ISSN
- 0278-6133 (ISSN-L)
- 1930-7810
- OpenAlex
- W2057181385
- Cited by
- 2,525
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 49 · 2025: 85 · 2024: 107 · 2023: 121 · 2022: 124 · 2021: 163 · 2020: 230 · 2019: 181 · 2018: 187 · 2017: 176 · 2016: 187 · 2015: 197 · 2014: 166 · 2013: 167 · 2012: 141
- FWCI
- 105.13
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Locations
- Health Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter) (submittedVersion)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Figshare (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Behavioral and Psychological Studies
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Policy Implementation Science
- Keywords
- behaviour change techniques, taxonomy (general classification scheme), behavioral interventions, intervention reporting, coding reliability, intervention manual, intervention replication
- MeSH terms
- Behavior Therapy, Humans, Psychotherapy, Health Behavior, Bibliometrics
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