Prochaska, JO; et al Evaluating theories of health behavior change: A hierarchy of criteria applied to the transtheoretical model APPL PSYCH-AN INTL REV-PSYCHOLOGIE APPLIQUEE-REVUE INTERNATIONALE, 57 (4): 561-588 OCT 2008

[Eugene Garfield]

E-mail Address: jop at uri.edu

Author(s): Prochaska, JO (Prochaska, James O.); Wright, JA (Wright, Julie 
A.); Velicer, WF (Velicer, Wayne F.) 

Title: Evaluating theories of health behavior change: A hierarchy of 
criteria applied to the transtheoretical model 

Source: APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY-AN INTERNATIONAL REVIEW-PSYCHOLOGIE APPLIQUEE-
REVUE INTERNATIONALE, 57 (4): 561-588 OCT 2008 

Excerpt: How has TTM fared in terms of citations? Remarkably well, given 
the
quality of the competition. The top three most cited authors in health
psychology are all developers of TTM (Pendlebury, 1996). Four of the top
25 most cited authors for all of psychology are developers of TTM. Out of
nearly 10,000 studies on tobacco from all disciplines, the top two and four
of the top 14 most cited articles were TTM studies (Byrne & Chapman,
2005).

Language: English 

Document Type: Article 

Keywords Plus: PREDICTING SMOKING CESSATION; EXPERT-SYSTEM INTERVENTION; 
CONTEMPLATION LADDER; INTEGRATIVE MODEL; SELF-EFFICACY; QUIT SMOKING; 
STAGE; POPULATION; ADDICTION; PROGRAMS
 
Abstract: The most common criteria recommended by philosophers of science 
for evaluating theories were organised within a hierarchy ranging from the 
least to the most risky tests for theories of health behavior change. The 
hierarchy progressed across: (1) Clarity; (2) Consistency; (3) Parsimony; 
(4) Testable; (5) Predictive Power; (6) Explanatory Power; (7) 
Productivity; (8) Generalisable; (9) Integration; (10) Utility; (11) 
Efficacy; and (12) Impact. The hierarchy was applied to the 
Transtheoretical Model (TTM) as an example of a health behavior change 
theory. The application was from the perspective of critics and advocates 
of TTM. Examples of basic and applied research challenging and supporting 
TTM across the hierarchy of criteria are presented. The goal is to provide 
a model for comparing alternative theories and to evaluate progress across 
the hierarchy within a particular theory. As theories meet criteria at 
each step in the hierarchy, the research and applications they generate 
can have increasing impacts on the science and practice of health behavior 
change. 

Addresses: Univ Rhode Isl, Canc Prevent Res Ctr, Kingston, RI 02881 USA; 
Boston Univ, Sch Med, Boston, MA 02215 USA 

Reprint Address: Prochaska, JO, Univ Rhode Isl, Canc Prevent Res Ctr, 2 
Chafee Rd, Kingston, RI 02881 USA. 

E-mail Address: jop at uri.edu 

Cited Reference Count: 69 

Times Cited: 1 

Publisher: BLACKWELL PUBLISHING 

Publisher Address: 9600 GARSINGTON RD, OXFORD OX4 2DQ, OXON, ENGLAND 

ISSN: 0269-994X 

DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-0597.2008.00345.x 

29-char Source Abbrev.: APPL PSYCHOL-INT REV 

ISO Source Abbrev.: Appl. Psychol.-Int. Rev.-Psychol. Appl.-Rev. Int. 

Source Item Page Count: 28 

Subject Category: Psychology, Applied 

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