The Drum Beat 303 - Change Theories: Rated and Reviewed

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This issue of The Drum Beat highlights 12 Change Theories summarised on The Communication Initiative (CI) website. Change theories are hypotheses about the nature of change and how change can be encouraged and facilitated in both individuals and communities. The summaries featured below have received over 10 ratings/reviews through The CI's Page Rating/Review process. They are listed below in order of highest score to lowest score, with a few selected "review" comments included for each.

Our page rating/review process is a way for you, as a member of The CI network, to assess the information and ideas presented on the website in terms of their value to you and your work. When you read the summaries on the website, you can also see the collective insight/review of your peers and colleagues [average rating] as well as their specific comments [read reviews]. This is our attempt at a three-dimensional insight into the ideas presented - the change theory itself, the collective assessment of its value, and individual peer review comments.

We encourage you to rate/review your favourite Change Theories. Please click here.

In order to rate and/or review any page on The CI website, please click on "Review this Page" in the top left corner (under Page Options). To read reviews already submitted, click on "Read Reviews" in the top right corner. When a page has been rated/reviewed, the top Page Options section reads "Average Rating: #.# out of 5 (# ratings submitted)". When it has not yet been rated/reviewed, this section will read "Average Rating: None Given".

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CHANGE THEORIES WITH OVER 10 RATINGS/REVIEWS

[as of June 1 2005]

1. Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire - An Analysis

An analysis of Freire's theory that suggests that the individual learns to cultivate his or her own growth through situations from daily life that provide useful learning experiences. The individual reflects upon and analyses the world in which s/he lives as part of an effort to reform that world and to make it conform to his or her needs. Translated from the Spanish original.

Average Rating: 4.8 out of 5 (44 ratings submitted)

[Rating: 5] "I could not understand Freire before. Now I do, I think. However, I question whether this is more educational or political theory?"

[Rating: 5] "A well written summary of Freire's position. Just what I needed. I will send to and Educator so that he might be intriqued enough to incorporate into practice."

[Rating: 5] "As I develop a personal teaching philosophy this work has been extremely useful. Thank you!"

2. AIDS Risk Reduction Model (ARRM)

A summary of a model providing a framework for explaining and predicting the behaviour change efforts of individuals specifically in relationship to the sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS. A 3-stage model, the ARRM incorporates several variables from other behaviour change theories, including the Health Belief Model, "efficacy" theory, emotional influences, and interpersonal processes.

Average Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (42 ratings submitted)

[Rating: 5] "I'm a Ph.D student in Sydney uni. honestly I find this theory so useful and practical. I will appriciate if you send me more informatiom about this model. I want to use this model in my Ph.D thesis. I look forward to hearing you more."

[Rating: 5] "very useful, quick and consice, exactly what I was looking for. thnks."

[Rating: 2] "uggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhh"

3. Social Cognitive Theory

A summary of a theory which defines human behaviour as an interaction of an individual's personal factors, behaviour, and environment.

Average Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (50 ratings submitted)

[Rating: 5] "Very useful. Keep it up. I will announce this window of opportunity to my University students."

[Rating: 5] "Yours is the only page that compares and includes the Health Belief Model. The references with links were extremely helpful. Thank you for helping to make my research easier."

[Rating: 5] "I'm working on an oral health promotion activity and I wanted to approach it from the social cognitive theory. This page was very useful. Thanks"

[Rating: 3] "There are few examples on this page, some more would be useful for overall understanding, but otherwise good."

4. Health Belief Model (Detailed)

A summary of a psychological model that attempts to explain and predict health behaviours by focusing on the attitudes and beliefs of individuals.

Average Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (171 ratings submitted)

[Rating: 5] "very, very useful. I infact want to do my MSc in Reproductive health using this model. i am working in AIDS Control Programme but presently doing MSc in health education and promotion. I have been reading books but i found it difficult to understand how such models can be applied to my work but within 30m i was able to see the possibility of applying it. i will need your advice when i kick of."

[Rating: 5] "I was unable to find this useful model in a Medline search. Thank you for including it, as I remember learning it, for my use and that of my learners."

[Rating: 2] "how does it affect a person on a personal, group and environmental level?"

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PULSE Poll

Jane Bertrand of JHUCCP argues that "participatory evaluation may not meet the methodological rigour of the scientific community to measure effectiveness."

[For context, please see The Drum Beat 302]

Do you agree or disagree?

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5. Stages of Change Model

A summary of a theory developed to compare smokers in therapy and self-changers along a behaviour change continuum. The rationale behind "staging" people, as such, was to tailor therapy to a person's needs at his/her particular point in the change process. Originally conceived as a linear change process, the stages in the model are now considered to be cyclical and the order is varied for each individual.

Average Rating: 4.4 out of 5 (49 ratings submitted)

[Rating: 5] "i am trying to plan a health promotion project, the theory really helps in the planning process"

[Rating: 5] "I am working as a mental health counselor and we are implementing this into our work and this was so helpful."

[Rating: 4] "This page has made it easier for me to understand what my instructor and our book is saying. This theory is now put into simple terms. Thank You"

[Rating: 4] "It seems to be a precise definition, the links are also useful for references. Thanks"

6. Facilitating Community Change

A summary of suggested steps for implementing positive change within community partnerships.

Average Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (12 ratings submitted)



[Rating: 5] "This sums up community building nicely - it is exactly what I was looking for - now what would really help is figuring out how to measure these steps! Let me know if there is more information out there about that part."

[Rating: 5] "This page is very important to my work as a health promoter for a genetic disease (sickkle cell disease)"

[Rating: 2] "these are important points but they are presented at too general level. Perhaps it would be useful to include more on what each of these means. For instance what does it mean to "size up a community's readiness and capacity to act"? How can we assess readiness and capacity?"

7. Reasoned Action

A summary of a theory which suggests that the most important determinant of a person's behaviour is his/her intention to perform it.

Average Rating: 4.3 out of 5 (30 ratings submitted)

[Rating: 5] "could provide more references on empirical research under each. re I am searching for appropriate conceptual /theoretical framework to explain lukeworm adoption of insecticide treated mosquito nets in Uganda to guide MBA dissertation."

[Rating: 5] "this page really helped me better understand the theory of reasoned action as I needed to fully understand if for my research paper..thanks"

[Rating: 1] "not very useful as no examples of its use are given."

8. Limiting Beliefs: Challenging and Changing Limiting Beliefs

A summary of a theory that suggests we behave in ways consistent with our beliefs and values. According to the author, certain beliefs can restrict our choices and limit our capacity to change the ways we behave. This summary outlines ways to challenge these "limiting beliefs."

Average Rating: 4.2 out of 5 (17 ratings submitted)

[Rating: 4] "Some limiting beliefs can certainly be overcome in this way. However it is also important to acknowledge that some limiting beliefs are based on limiting realities. An illustrative exchange might be (one that I have had several times): Wife: I cannot talk to my husband about using condoms. Response: What would happen if you did? Wife: He would accuse me of infidelity, beat me, or kick me and my children out of the house. It is important to recognize the real constraints faced by people, especially women, in order to avoid victim blaming."

[Rating: 4] "Good reminder! We generally behave in ways which are in accord with our attitudes and beliefs, but often the best way to break through the barrier is not verbal, but putting a person into a situation where another kind of behaviour is not only possible, but eminently reasonable. The well known experiment of 30-odd years ago in relation to race prejudices in the United States is instructive. A well dressed, well spoken Afro-American presented at hotels to take up a phoned room booking. In most cases, hotel owners accepted the guest -- he was outside their mental picture of an Afro-American, on which their race prejudice was based. It breached the citadel of their prejudice."

[Rating: 1] "I have a problem with the first statement -"We behave in ways consistent with our beliefs and values." Simply not true, unless we want to say that when we act in ways contrary to our stated values, we did not have the correct values. This approach gives far too much credence and weight to verbals statements about what is possible. It seems too naive to be useful."

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Call for Participation in "Voices of the World" an International Media Project on Endangered Languages

This project aims to build international popular awareness of the diversity of mankind through a world-wide documentary film and media project. For the upcoming film, "Voices," they seek case stories which pinpoint the various stages from language endangerment to language death. Interested in new material, already recorded material and potential contacts for speakers of endangered languages.

For more information, send an email introducing yourself, your language or the language you are engaged with. Please describe your potential contribution and in what way you would like to collaborate with the project.

Contact Signe Byrge Sørensen byrge@final-cut.dk

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9. Cultivation Theory of Mass Media

A summary of a theory suggesting that repeated exposure to definitions of potentially fictional or biased 'reality' in the mass media leads to perception of the 'reality' as normal. The result is a social legitimisation of the 'reality' depicted in the mass media, which can influence individual behaviour.

Average Rating: 3.9 out of 5 (28 ratings submitted)

[Rating: 5] "very nice page"

[Rating: 5] "Thank you.This article is very easy to understand."

[Rating: 2] "ok"

10. Buddhist Concept of Communication

A point-by-point comparison between the Western, Aristotelian model of communication and the Buddhist model, in which sharing and mutuality are key concepts.

Average Rating: 3.6 out of 5 (17 ratings submitted)

[Rating: 5] "I found this comparison very useful. I wonder how close the Buddhist Model is to Marshal Rosenbergs Non Violent Communication. I would like to find the original source material. Can anyone help?"

[Rating: 4] "emphasis on both outward and inward processes"

[Rating: 0] "it is good but what is the concept of communication skill please discuss extensively and if possible e- mail [me]?"

11. Exchange Theory

A summary of a theory suggesting that change happens because individuals, groups, and organisations have resources they are willing to exchange for perceived benefits.

Average Rating: 3.3 out of 5 (13 ratings submitted)

[Rating: 5] "Everything I was looking for was right here in a nutshell."

[Rating: 5] "Worked for me!"

[Rating: 3] "don't like wording could be clearer."

12. Social Learning Theory - or - Social Cognitive Theory

A table identifying concepts, definitions and applications related to the stages of these two similar theories.

Average Rating: 3.3 out of 5 (31 ratings submitted)

[Rating: 5] "grids are always helpful. printed page will be posted on board above my desk for quick references."

[Rating: 5] "I am a Human Services/Psychology Major preparing a presentation on Cognitive Socila Learning for a Personality Theories class.This is a great site. Thanks."

[Rating: 4] "helped me understand the concepts and how they are applied. also showed me different names used for social learning theory. thanks."

[Rating: 2] "this page [is bad] because it has almost no detailed information and its just the basics"

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