The language of barriers and drivers: problems and limitations

Yolande Strengers

WARNING: This presentation is deliberately provocative. Don’t take it personally!

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What are drivers?

Drivers take you somewhere

Drivers make you do something

Drivers may need to be changed to achieve a desired behaviour

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What are barriers?

Barriers stop you from going somewhere

Barriers stop you from doing things

Barriers are obstacles that may need to be removed to achieve a desired behaviour/ outcome

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Step 1: Identify barriers

UNDESIRED BEHAVIOURDESIRED BEHAVIOUR

BARRIERS/ OBSTACLES/ HURDLES/ OBTRUSIONS

20 minutes 4 minutes

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Step 2: Remove barriers

UNDESIRED BEHAVIOURDESIRED BEHAVIOUR

Linear process of change

20 minutes 4 minutes

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More barriers!

Assumption: Barriers exist in isolation from each other and in isolation from behaviour.

Problem: No language/ theory of connectivity

Potential outcome: new unexpected barriers appear (rebound effects) resulting in no desired

change

20 minutes 20 minutes

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New barriers!

Assumption: Barriers are (at least temporarily) static

Problem: No language of continual change

Potential outcome: Practices/ behaviours change

20 minutes 2 x 15 minutes?

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Step 1: Identify Drivers

Air-conditioning

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Step 2: Change the drivers

Linear causal process of change

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Traffic jam!

Assumption: Drivers are independent and autonomous of each other

Problem: No language/ theory of connectivity

Potential outcome: Lots of individual drivers create a new social phenomenon with its own set of problems (i.e. traffic jam)

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Drivers change

Assumption: Drivers are (at least temporarily) static

Problem: No language/ theory of change (apart from linear causality)

Potential outcome: New drivers emerge, undesired change may occur

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Missing questions and answers

How do these connect?

What is the relationship within and between barriers and drivers?

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Missing questions and answers

How are each of these phenomena changing?

Changing drivers

Changing barriers

Changing people/ behaviours

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Missing questions and answersHow do drivers, barriers and behaviour change in relation to each other?

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Missing questions and answers

What does the combination of barriers, drivers & behaviour look like?

How do we understand it collectively?

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Example: Barriers and drivers of air-conditioning

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Overlaying theories required

• Theories of behaviour change

• Theories of technology change

• Theories of system change

Potential problem: People, technology and systems not necessarily considered holistically

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Summary of assumptions embedded into the language of barriers and drivers

• Barriers and drivers exist independently of each other (but can still be grouped together)

• Barriers and drivers are not affected by each other

• Behaviour exists independently of and externally from barriers and drivers

• People are ‘confronted’ by barriers and their behaviour is ‘driven’ by externalities (individual agency unclear)

• If one driver or barrier changes, the others won’t

• Technologies, behaviour and systems are separated and segregated

• To change behaviour, we must remove barriers and change the drivers

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An alternative: practice theory

• Key assumptions:

– Practices are the central unit of analysis & change (rather than barriers, drivers or behaviours)

– Practices composed of a number of elements/ components: meanings & images; things & stuff; systems & infrastructures; practical knowledge; rules & regulations.

– Inter-relationships & connectivity between ‘elements’ or ‘components’ of a practice are prioritised

– Agency is accounted for: people are ‘participants’ in or ‘carriers’ of practices

– Change takes place through the continual reproduction/ enactment of practice

– Technology, behaviour and systems are part of the practice (rather than external from it and separate from each other)

– Practices are always changing (whether we want them to or not)

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Why care?

• The language of ‘barriers’ and ‘drivers’ permeates policy, design, resource, environment and behaviour change sectors.

• Language is important:

– It frames and defines problems & outcomes

– It reflects and represents the way we view the world

– It encourages particular assumptions

– It hides and masks alternative realities

– It prioritises (or reflects) particular theories

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Thankyou!