Lec 8: Theory of Planned Behaviour

Question 1

Theory of Planned Beh - Ajzen 2019

• SLIDE 3 review the connections
• extends on theory of
• few variables determine beh & can change beh

PROXIMAL constructs=
DISTAL constructs=

What are some mediators / moderators in the theory:

Answer 1

• of reasoned action
  = can directly measure them, closest proximity to beh
  Attitude, Subjective norm, Perceived beh’l control

= Beh, Normative, Control Beliefs - they indirectly address proximal constructs

: mediators = intention
moderators = perceived beh’l control / actual beh’l control

Question 2

Intention =

• may not perform a beh because:

Measures of Intention:

Answer 2

= readiness to engage in a beh/ perceived likelihood of performing a beh

• may predict actual beh
• ** according to TPB intention is the best predictor of beh**

Align intention & beh as equal/specific level
- Intention does NOT always predict beh EX - new years resolutions

: no intention of doing the beh
intend on doing beh but unable or unwilling to act on intention (lack of avail/skill etc)

: “I intend to…”
I will try to / I plan to…
(during specific time frame)

Question 3

BUT ‘Intention - beh GAP’
AKA:
Is there a mediator?

Answer 3

: strong intention doesn’t always lead to beh change

Possible MED =
1 Action Planning:
WHAT WHEN WHERE - planning of a beh/action
2 Coping Planning:
Def- anticipate & identify barrier to doing intended beh & develop strategies to overcome these barriers
EX dieting - (barrier = sweet foods) strategy -

Question 4

Determinants of Intention:
1
2
3

Answer 4

1 Attitude
2 Subjective Norm
3 Perceived beh control
*TPB says these predict beh intention & correlate highly with intention

Question 5

1 Attitude =

2 Subjective Norm =
Injunctive
Descriptive

Measures of “Direct” Normative Beliefs - SLIDE 15
EX: Most ppl important to me - think i should (injunc) / like me do (descrip) -> LIKERT scale (agree/disagree)

Answer 5

1 = extent of fav/unfavourable view
overall feeling or evaluation of the beh - can be measured with systematic differential scale (opposite adjectives)

2 = Perceived social norms/social pressure

‘Direct injunctive’ - refrain or do spec act = expectation
= perception that MOST ppl who are important to me think I should (more social pressure) or should not do the beh

‘Direct descriptive’ - adapt to ppl around you
= Perception that MOST ppl who are like me ARE or are not doing the beh

“do what i say not as i do”

Question 6

3 Perceived Beh’l Control =
VS self-efficacy

Ajzen says PBC refers to 2 things:

Answer 6

= how much a person feels in control of doing specific beh
- perceived ease or difficulty in doing a beh
VS self- efficacy(confidence in self/skills)

PBC is the same as self-efficacy to SOME - DWYER thinks theres a difference

: 1 perceived control (beh is or is not up to you)
2 perceived ability

EX: walking your dog: PBC low due to 5am wake up (difficult) YET self efficacy is high

Question 7

Measures of PBC
“PA…. is entirely up to me VS is beyond my control” - LIKERT scale used

“PA in the next month is (Impossible - - - - Possible) Sysemantic Diff Scale

Question 8

Actual Beh’l Control =
* we often do not know & can be difficult to find out

IT IS A…

Answer 8

= Extent to which a person has skills, resources & other pre-requsities needed to perform the beh

• serves as a proxy (takes place of)
• use perceived beh’l control to predict beh when not knowing actual beh’l control

… MODERATOR - relationship btw intention -> beh relationship will be stronger or weaker depending on person’s level of actual beh control

Question 9

Where do Attitude, sub norms and PBC come from?
-> according to TPB the 3 are functions of:
1
2
3

Answer 9

: of underlying beliefs
1 - beh’l beliefs - form or shape attitudes & outcome evaluations
2 - normative beliefs - form or shape sub norms - (injunctive/descriptive) & motivation to comply
3 - control beliefs - form or shape perceived beh’l control & perceived power

Question 10

1 Beh’l beliefs & outcome evaluations
-> attitude is based on these
=

Measures:
Beh’l belief
Outcome expectation

Answer 10

= beliefs about outcomes of doing beh
* similar to SCT - outcome expectations*

• Eval of outcomes = your eval of each consequence/ value on outcomes
• SCT - outcome of expectancies* is similar

Beh’l b: “Doing PA… will lower my blood pressure” - LIKERT scale
Out Expec: “Lowering my blood pressure is …
important —- unimportant… to me

Question 11

2 “Indirect” Norm Beliefs & motivation to comply
-> Subjective norms based on these

“indirect injunctive
/ descriptive”

Motivation to comply =

*Elicitation Study - to elicit norm beliefs
Injunc - slide 26
“Which individuals or groups would approve/disapprove of or
think you should be doing…”

Descripti - slide 27
“Which individuals or groups are most likely/least likely to do at
least 150 mins…”

Measures
Injunctive:
Motiv to comply

Descriptive:
Motiv to comply

Answer 11

Injun = perception that EACH referent thinks I should/shouldn’t do the beh

Descrip = perception that EACH referent is or isn’t doing beh
* uses EACH not MOST like subjective - therefore subjective is more general

= degree one wants to act in alignment with perceived wishes of others (each)

INJUNC: may doctor thinks…
Motiv - “I want to do what my doctor thinks I should -LIKERT SCALE

DESCRIP: my spouse does…
Motiv - “Doing PA @ level of my spouse matters to me’ - LIKERT SCALE