HC1: Introduction to networks 2
Overview
- Brief introduction to the course
- Definition of intervention
- Intervention mapping: the process of intervention development
- Application of intervention mapping
- Network interventions
Set up of SS4S
Main learning objectives of Networks 2
- Basic knowledge and understanding
o Social media interventions
o Social media affordances
o Social media processes
- Application of knowledge
o Design of an intervention plan for solving a wicked problem
- Judgement
o Contribution of different/ own disciplines to an intervention
- Skills
Recurring themes in the course
- Social relationships
- Social media
- What features and processes may make social media a potential intervention tool?
- How can we use social media for interventions?
Course overview
Today’s class
- Definition of intervention
- From theory to intervention: the process of intervention development
- Applying intervention mapping on a problem
- Network interventions
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,1.1. Definition of intervention
- A combination of program elements or strategies designed to produce behavior changes or improve
situations among individuals, groups or an entire population.
- Different disciplines use different strategies, approaches when thinking of an intervention.
1.2 Definition of intervention
- Intervention strategies: can include educational programs, new or stronger policies, improvements in
the environment, or a health promotion campaign.
- Multiple strategies are typically the most effective in producing desired and lasting change.
- Implemented in different settings including communities, worksites, schools, health care
organizations, faith-based organizations or in the home.
- Multiple settings and using multiple strategies may be the most effective because of the potential to
reach a larger number of people in a variety of ways.
1.3 Examples of intervention methods
- Education: give lectures, workshops;
- Promotion: advertise a desired behavior;
- Community empowerment;
- Modeling: give good examples;
- Skill development: improve skills necessary of behavior;
- Incentives: give rewards for good behavior;
- Social support.
→ See a comprehensive overview in Kok et al. (obligatory reading).
Real life examples of Dutch state-funded interventions
https://canvas.vu.nl/courses/52914/modules/items/537515
- What is the change they want to see?
- What is the setting?
- What type of interventions are included?
From theory to intervention: the process of intervention development
2.1. Definition of intervention mapping
Bartholomew, Parcel, Kok, 1998
- A framework for effective decision making at each step in the intervention development;
- Makes planning explicit and transparent;
- Facilitates collaborative partners in a multidisciplinary group.
- What is the problem?
- Who are included in this problem and its solution?
2.2. Steps and tasks in intervention mapping
Step 1 What is the problem?
What do we know about this problem?
- Prior research: What did others
theorize or find about this problem?
- Need assessment: What does the
target group say about their own
experience?
Step 2 What are the objectives? What is the desired
change?
1. What individuals need to learn/do
(learning objectives);
2. What must be changed in the
organization or community? (change
objectives)
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, Step 2 What are the determinants of the problem?
- Personal determinants: individual
factors, cognitive factors, etc.
- External determinants: social and
structural factors.
What is the evidence that changing these
determinants will lead to a desired change?
Who is target population?
Are there sub-populations? (gender, age,
ethnicity, etc.).
Step 3 Identifying potential intervention methods
- How can the determinants be
influenced in order to elicit a desired
change?
- Look into prior research on these
methods, where they effective?
- Translate methods into actual
strategies.
Step 4 Design program material
Pretest material
Step 5 Implementation of intervention
Step 6 Monitoring and evaluation
Measuring effects and processes
Applying intervention mapping on a problem
Network interventions
4.1 Definition of network interventions (NI)
Valente, 2012
- People can be effectively influenced through their social network to
adopt new behavior.
- NI is the process of using social networks or social network data to accelerate social change, generate
influence, achieve desirable outcomes.
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, 4.2 Network interventions strategies
The strategy describes which component(s) of the social network will be
targeted.
Decision is based on the available social network data (e.g., sociogram).
- Individual level: targeting specific individuals in a social network →
nodes, influencers, opinion leaders.
- Segmentation: targeting a specific group within a social
network.
Topic of lecture.
- Induction: generating
new connections among
individuals, e.g., word of
mouth.
Topic of lecture.
Network intervention strategies
- Which level of network intervention strategies did you propose in the previous discussion on student
burnout?
- To find more network-based strategies tailored to your level of social capital, see this link (added to
Canvas Modules Lecture 1):
- https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes/take_quiz/social_capital
Example of MC exam question
How to process Reading 1 Valente: Network Interventions
- Define network interventions;
- Name the type of network interventions;
- Define the type of network interventions;
- Understand how to choose a type of intervention.
How to process Reading 2: Kok et al.: A taxonomy of behaviour change methods
- Understand that there are many different intervention methods;
- Name the main categories of intervention methods; →
- Browse through the supplementary material (tables with methods) and get inspired by it for your own intervention strategy;
- Don’t get lost in the details.
HC2: What are social media interventions?
Overview
- Social media interventions:
o Definition, benefits, examples.
- How to choose a social media platform?
o Functionality.
- Applying knowledge on a wicked problem.
1.1. Definition of social media interventions
An internet-based intervention strategy that exploits the affordances* (functions) of a social media platform
to produce behavior change or improve a situation.
• See lecture 3 for definition and details of the term affordances from a communication science perspective.
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