Behavioral diagnosis

What is behavioral diagnosis?

Behavioral diagnosis is a structured investigation of factors that may explain a specified behavior. It can examine both barriers and enabling conditions. This is not a clinical diagnosis, and the investigation may not reveal a single root cause.

Behavioral diagnostics: frameworks for investigation

COM-B and the Behaviour Change Wheel

Michie, van Stralen, and West (2011) describe COM-B: capability, opportunity, and motivation interact to produce behavior. The Behaviour Change Wheel links this framework to intervention functions.

Fogg’s Behavior Model

Fogg’s Behavior Model uses a different formulation. It asks whether motivation, ability, and a prompt converge at the moment of action. This overlaps with some COM-B concerns, but organizes them differently.

Evidence and application

A vaccination team investigating missed appointments might examine booking steps, access, information, and competing demands. If booking is difficult, it could test simpler scheduling or a walk-in option. It should also examine concerns about vaccination rather than assuming access is the only issue.

Frameworks organize questions. Observation helps determine which explanations fit. A comparison of outcomes helps test whether the proposed change addresses the problem. More information will do little for someone who cannot get an appointment, but easier booking will not solve every reason for declining one.