Assessing HIV Prevention Provider Knowledge of Behavior Science Theory: Building on Existing Intuitive Experience

Abstract

Behavioral science theory is recommended as a basis for prevention programs, yet many STD/HIV prevention providers have little academic background in this area and see no relevance of theory to their work. This study assessed STD/HIV prevention providers' intuitive insight about behaviors. Comparisons of behavioral determinants from providers "common sense" theories with determinants identified in formal theories are made through the use of Theoretical Domains, a teaching tool designed to enhance the understanding and use of behavioral science in planning and implementing interventions. Understanding how to effectively apply behavior change concepts, combined with prevention providers' basic, intuitive knowledge can enhance understanding, communication, and skills exchange between providers and researchers. Building capacity in local communities begins with a participatory process of community members, prevention providers, and researchers working together as equal partners. Better translation of research into practice using theory-based interventions will benefit the field of STD/HIV prevention.

Exploring the subjective experience of the “rubber hand” illusion

“…The “elicitation interview,” first introduced by Pierre Vermersch (1994/2011, 1999) and developed in the field of cognitive science by Claire Petitmengin (1999, 2006), is a technique that attempts to guide a person to recall a given experience, examine it, and describe it with great precision. Originally designed to study the cognitive processes involved in learning, the technique was then incorporated into the neurophenomenological program proposed by Francisco Varela (1996) and since then has been used and tested by a growing number of researchers in the cognitive (e.g., Lutz et al, 2002; Petitmengin et al, 2013), clinical (Petitmengin et al, 2007), therapeutic (Katz, 2011) and managerial (Remillieux, 2009) fields.…”

“…For a detailed description of the methodology of interview and analysis, see Petitmengin (1999, 2006) and Valenzuela-Moguillansky (2012). …”

“…In what follows we will explain how we identified a generic structure of the experience in each visuo-tactile condition using the gathered data. The method that we used was based on the analytical methodology proposed by Petitmengin (1999, 2001). …”

Microcognitive science: bridging experiential and neuronal microdynamics

“…Each time we analyzed a corpus of experiential descriptions, even if the content of the experiences was very different, we were able to detect generic microdynamic structures (Petitmengin et al, 2009, 2013). For example, even if the content of the ideas which we explored the genesis of was very different, we discovered a generic structure of this genesis (Petitmengin, 1999, 2007). The very existence of these structures has an important epistemological consequence: it enables the production of results which are reproducible and therefore verifiable.…”

“…For example loosening the attentional focus on the content of an idea (for example a scientific idea concept) makes it possible to discover a process of maturation, and micro-adjustments of attention facilitating the progressive transformation of a fuzzy and blurred feeling into a “clear and distinct” idea (Petitmengin, 1999, 2007; Remillieux, in press): in other words, an invisible microgenesis, of which the idea is only the visible result. Elicitation methods also allow precise descriptions of the microdynamics of decision processes, usually concealed by the absorption of attention into the outcome of the process (Petitmengin et al, 2013).…”